Laughter really is the best medicine

Experts from Leeds University found ultrasound treatments do not speed up the healing process.

Instead, patients are better off with tried-and-tested methods such as compression bandages and support stockings that are cheaper and easier to arrange.

But they also claim laughter also helps by getting blood moving around the body.

Professor Andrea Nelson, of Leeds University’s School of Healthcare, who led the study, said: “The key to care with this group of patients is to stimulate blood flow back up the legs to the heart.

“The best way to do that is with compression bandages and support stockings – not ‘magic wands’ – coupled with advice on diet and exercise. Believe it or not, having a really hearty chuckle can help too.

“This is because laughing gets the diaphragm moving and this plays a vital part in moving blood around the body.”

Leg ulcers are common in people with varicose veins or mobility problems.