Lymphatic Drainage
In physical therapy, the importance of lymphatic drainage cannot be overstated. Lymphatic massage techniques are designed to promote improved flow of the lymphatic system.
This system plays a crucial role in facilitating the body’s natural healing processes and enhancing overall wellness. As physical therapists, our commitment to holistic care involves understanding and harnessing the power of lymphatic drainage for our patients.
What is the Lymphatic System?
What is Lymphatic Fluid?
Lymph fluid is the extra fluid that drains from your body’s cells and tissues, but isn’t reabsorbed into your capillaries. This fluid contains many different substances, including proteins, minerals, fats, damaged cells, germs, and even cancer cells.
How Do I Know If I Have Excess Lymph Fluid?
- Swelling, often in one arm or leg, but it can occur in other areas as well. The swelling may be mild or severe and may come and go.
- A feeling of heaviness or tightness in the affected area.
- A decreased range of motion in the affected limb due to the swelling and increased tissue volume.
- Pitting edema, which occurs when pressure on or a touch to the swollen area leaves an indentation or “pit”. Think of memory foam.
- A feeling of tight skin, as well as changes in texture, such as increased firmness or hardness.
- Clothing, shoes, or jewelry feeling tighter than usual, especially on one side of the body.
- Recurrent infections in the affected limb. If you notice frequent bouts of cellulitis or other infections, it could be associated with lymphatic issues.
- Slower healing of wounds or injuries in the affected area may be a sign of impaired lymphatic drainage.
- Pain or discomfort in the affected area.
Where Can Lymphatic Fluid Accumulate?
- Arms – Relatively common and can occur due surgery or radiation therapy for breast cancer, trauma, or infection.
- Legs – Fluid accumulation here can be caused by cancer treatment, surgery, obesity, or chronic venous insufficiency.
- Face & Neck – Lymphedema in the face and/or neck may happen due to surgery or radiation therapy for head and neck cancers, trauma, or infections.
- Abdomen and Genitals – Lymph fluid may collect in these areas after surgery for gynecological cancers, prostate cancer, or other conditions affecting the pelvic region.
- Breasts – This is not rare, especially after breast cancer surgery or treatments that involve lymph node removal or radiation therapy.
- Armpit – This is a common site for lymph fluid accumulation as there are several lymph nodes in and around the armpit. Lymph node dissection or radiation therapy in this area can contribute to fluid buildup.
- Back – This is uncommon, but can happen if lymph nodes in the back are affected by surgery, radiation, or other factors.
- Buttocks and Hips – If you have had surgery or radiation therapy for cancers in these regions, lymph fluid accumulation can occur.
- Fingers and Toes – Lymph fluid buildup commonly causes swollen hands and feet. This may occur due to trauma, surgery, or other conditions that impact the extremities.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage
Types of Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Manual lymphatic drainage, sometimes also referred to as lymphatic massage, typically lasts anywhere between 15 minutes and one hour. There are four approaches to manual lymphatic drainage:
- Vodder, which uses different hand movements on the skin depending on the area of the body undergoing treatment.
- Foldi, which is similar to the Vodder technique, uses gentle movements on the skin and focuses on a movement and relaxation phase.
- Casley-Smith, which also involves slow and gentle hand motions, primarily using the palms and sides of the hand over specific areas of the lymphatic system
- Leduc, which uses specific hand motions to collect lymph fluid under the skin before redirecting it into the larger lymphatic system to be reabsorbed.
These techniques work in very similar ways. They all use a gentle form of massage to stretch and move the skin in the direction of lymph flow. Your physical therapist will determine the method that is most beneficial for you, and may combine techniques in one session.
Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage Massage
‌Lymphatic drainage massage techniques can help move trapped lymph fluid if you have lymphedema, especially after surgery. This helps ease mild symptoms and aid in recovery.
Lymphatic drainage massage may help treat other health problems, too. Some conditions may improve more with the massage than others.
In addition, science suggests that lymphatic massage may be beneficial for other health conditions too:
- ‌Rheumatoid Arthritis – Lymph flow can slow as this disease gets worse. This causes tissue swelling, increased joint pain, and lowered joint function. Lymphatic drainage massage can help make you more comfortable by easing these symptoms.
- ‌Chronic Venous Insufficiency – This condition is when the valves or walls of the veins in the legs don’t work well, making it hard for the blood to flow back up to the heart from the legs.‌ Lymphatic drainage massage helps increase the blood flow.
- ‌Fibromyalgia – A condition that causes inflammation of the skin nerves, skin discoloration, and swelling, lymphatic massage may be even better than deep tissue massage to treat stiffness and pain caused by fibromyalgia.
Who Can Perform Lymphatic Drainage Massage?
When seeking treatment for lymphatic drainage, look for a specialist or therapist who has done at least 135 hours of training for lymphedema or is a certified lymphedema therapist. Some massage therapists are qualified to perform lymphatic drainage massage.
At Beyond Basics Physical Therapy, our physical therapists are trained in manual lymph drainage massage. Working with your primary care physician, we’re able to create the most effective treatment plan for you.
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