UNDER PRESSURE
the day. Price will typically measure the
patient’s ankle, calf, and length of the calf,
in addition to other measurements. This
can take anywhere from five minutes to
almost an hour, depending on the style of
the garment and whether the patient needs a
custom fit.
“We do a custom fit if someone’s body
contour is very different,” said Price. “If a
patient is very large or small at the bottom or
top of the leg, an ‘off the shelf ’ option would
not be advisable.”
DONNING AND DOFFING
“If I get a prescription with a really strong
compression, I need to take into account
what the patient is capable of,” explained
Price. “In a case like that, I might call
the doctor and ask about lowering the
compression so that the patient can comply.”
Price added that there must be good
communication among the patient’s medical
team, or else “it’s not going to work.”
For elderly patients who need help donning
and doffing their stockings, there are
If a patient can’t get his/her stockings on
and off, then there’s almost no chance of
compliance. Thus, teaching patients how
to get stockings on and off is a critical part
of the fitting process. In fact, part of Price’s
evaluation is getting a sense of what each
patient can or is willing to do. For example,
does the person have difficulty bending over
because of back problems? Are his/her hands
weak due to arthritis?
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Pedorthic Footcare Association | www.pedorthics.org