Boost for patients with lower leg conditions

Wednesday October 1st, 2008

A national event is under way to promote awareness of lower leg problems and how to prevent them.

"Healthy Legs for Life week" began last year and is being held this year from September 29 to October 5. Its founders Leg Club Foundation work with patient groups, GPs, community nurses and members of the public.

The Foundation was launched in December 2004 as part of the government and NHS strategy for leg ulcer management and associated conditions in the UK. It achieved charitable status in September 2005.

They have formed 14 "Leg Clubs" around the UK, which aim to be the leading source of information for the public on the prevention and treatment of leg ulcers and associated conditions.

Lower leg problems range from spider veins and varicose veins to more serious complaints such as leg ulcers. These are caused by the disruption of normal blood flow in legs through injury, inactivity, pregnancy or hereditary disease. Diabetics are also at risk of leg ulcers, as they have a reduced ability to heal after injury.

The Leg Clubs first began in Suffolk in 1995. Informal clinics are held by district nurses and information and advice are given to patients who may otherwise lack support due to social factors such as isolation.

According to the Foundation, patients at Leg Clubs are "empowered, through a sense of ownership, to become stakeholders in their own treatment". Patients are treated collectively and the emphasis is on social interaction, participation, empathy and peer support.

Evidence shows that this approach impacts positively on healing and recurrence rates and helps isolated older people reintegrate into their communities.

Tags: UK News

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