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Pharmacy support

L&R offers a range of tools and guidance for pharmacies.

Customer advice

Who would benefit from compression hosiery?

L&R compression hosiery can help with:

  • Tired, aching legs, especially at the end of the day
  • Reddish/brown staining above the ankle
  • Sores that appear within the stained skin
  • Itchy patches above the ankle
  • Wounds or knocks that are slow to heal
  • Varicose veins that are visible and painful
  • Throbbing and/or swollen legs

Not suitable for:

  • Diabetics or those who have arterial disease or congestive cardiac failure.
  • If in any doubt speak to your nurse or doctor.

Putting on Compression Hosiery?

Compression Hosiery can be difficult to put on, particularly if patients have limited mobility or hand movement.

In this instance the (ActiGlide application aid may be of help. Alternatively you can download our step-by-step application guide or watch our application video.

ActiGlide Application Aid

Replacing hosiery

Compression hosiery is recommended for 100 washes, or approximately 3 months’ wear. Ideally re-measure every 6 months.

Measuring and sizing

Measuring the customer for compression hosiery

In order to work effectively compression hosiery must be the correct size and apply the right amount of pressure to the leg. Remember that customers may feel embarrassed about having their legs measured.

How to measure for compression hosiery

How to measure for ReadyWrap

Always ensure that you:

  • Fully explain the measuring procedure and that the effectiveness of compression hosiery is dependent on the garment being the appropriate size for them.
  • Take your customer to a private area.
  • Start the measurements at the top of the leg and work your way down, explaining what you are doing. This can help prevent customers becoming concerned about how high up the leg you will be measuring.

Important:

  • If a customer will fit into more than one compression size Activa generally would recommend the smaller size to ensure the most effective compression.
  • If you have a particularly long limb to accommodate, you should recommend the larger size.
  • Weight gain or loss can affect the size required. if the customer has problems with swelling they may require ActiLymph hosiery to manage this.

Activa hosiery sizer

Find products and Ordering codes from our Compression Hosiery range using condition, class and sizing information.

Get sizing

MadeToMeasure

Some customers will not fit into the Activa or ActiLymph standard stock size hosiery and it is vital that they are not just given the nearest size. Hand made and delivered within 5 days, the Activa and Credenill partnership are the UK’s leading supplier of Made to Measure hosiery.

Made to Measure hosiery

Resources

Resources

Ordering codes

View all of the L&R Ordering codes so you can order the products you need for your customers.

E-learning

A convenient way to keep up to date with current Best Practice.

Looking after your legs

Practical advice to help your customers who are worried about getting varicose veins, noticed changes in the look of their legs or they ache at the end of the day.

Pharmacy leaflets

L&R provide free leaflets on Taking Care of Your Legs. Call our customer care line and we'll send them to you, or download a copy.

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