Why lower-limb health belongs in every chronic disease conversation
ABSTRACT:
Lower-limb wounds are visible warning signs of chronic disease progression and can threaten mobility, independence, dignity, and quality of life. This article argues that lower-limb health should be embedded in chronic disease prevention and management strategies, particularly for people living with diabetes, venous or arterial disease, kidney disease, chronic edema, lymphedema, frailty, reduced mobility, or previous ulceration. The authors describe how metabolic, vascular, neurologic, inflammatory, functional, and social factors intersect to create hard-to-heal wounds, and they emphasize the importance of early screening, risk stratification, vascular and venous assessment, compression when appropriate, self-management support, interprofessional coordination, and outcome measurement. The article highlights the particular relevance for people with lower-limb lymphedema or chronic edema, where swelling, skin changes, infection risk, reduced mobility, and wounds can reinforce one another. Embedding lower-limb health in chronic disease care can help shift systems from crisis response toward prevention, timely intervention, and recurrence reduction.
How to cite: Botros, M., Kuhnke, J. L., & Mark, T. Pathways. 2026;15(4): 12-14. https://doi.org/10.70472/YSWU8933
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