Anna is an Advanced Lymphoedema Nurse Specialist at Accelerate. Anna’s clinical experience focuses on community healthcare and support and treatment of the lower limb, in both wound and lymphoedema care.

Anna’s work has involved a complex transformation project within a London Integrated Care System, driving clinical excellence through training and education packages, clinical role modelling, audit, and data analysis. Anna also has a special interest in technology in healthcare and the possibilities this brings to the future of patient care.

Workshop at The Society of Tissue Viability 2025 Conference

Managing the foot and toes, a whole leg approach

PRESENTING WITH GEORGINA RITCHIE AND KATY SMYTH

Aims

This workshop is aimed at healthcare professionals who currently apply compression in their practice wanting to increase their awareness of the importance of a whole leg approach.

• To understand how proactive management using compression therapy for the foot and toes can prevent problems: the use of toe garments to prevent swelling
• To dispel myths about compression on the foot: how to compress a swollen foot and how to encase a fragile one
• To increase awareness of managing wet or swollen feet and toes: when to appropriately use toe bandaging and/or foot stumping safely

Abstract

Often, we focus on strong compression therapy for the gaiter area of the lower limb when managing venous and lymphovenous ulceration. Effective strong compression is a corner stone of clinical management. However, too often we see that the foot and toes are neglected.

If the toes and foot have become wet or swollen it can be incredibly difficult to manage. Excoriated wet toes can be excruciatingly painful for patients and problematic for clinicians whose aim is to reverse the damage.

In this 90-minute workshop Georgina Ritchie, Katy Smyth and Anna Swinburn will discuss how proactive management using compression therapy for the foot and toes can prevent problems from occurring. They will also explore in this practical workshop effective interventions for managing wet or swollen feet and toes.