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Lymphatic Drainage

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?

The lymphatic system—also referred to as the body’s “second circulatory system” or “sewer system”—is a network of vessels, lymph nodes, and organs that work together to maintain fluid balance, remove waste products, and support the immune system. Unlike the circulatory system, the lymphatic system lacks a pump and relies on muscle contractions and external influences like lymphatic massage for efficient functioning. Keeping your lymphatic system healthy is important for general and specific immune responses. When the lymphatic system is not working well, it may play a role in obesity, infections, gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction and more. If the lymph system is damaged or lymph vessels are blocked, fluid can build up in the body’s soft tissues, causing a condition called lymphedema. If you are at risk of developing or experiencing lymphedema, you may benefit significantly from manual lymphatic drainage (MLD). MLD consists of specific gentle massage techniques to help redirect and improve lymph flow and mitigate the risk of fluid accumulation.
What is the Lymphatic System
Spinal massage

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?

Detecting excess lymph fluid involves recognizing certain signs and symptoms. If you suspect that you may have an issue with excess fluid or swollen lymph nodes, look for the following indicators:
  • 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.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult with your primary care physician. They can conduct a thorough examination, review your medical history, and recommend diagnostic tests or imaging studies, if necessary. It’s worth noting that lymphedema can occur for various reasons, including surgery, radiation therapy, physical trauma, infections, or congenital conditions affecting the lymphatic system. Early detection and appropriate management are crucial to prevent complications in the future.
Man massaging person-with shoulder pain
Lymphatic Fluid Accumulate

Where Can Lymphatic Fluid Accumulate?

Lymphedema can develop when there is excess lymphatic fluid that accumulates in various areas of the body when the lymphatic system is damaged or not functioning well. Here is how lymph fluid impacts various body parts:
  • 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.
If you are at risk of or experiencing lymphedema, seek medical attention. Your healthcare provider may recommend therapeutic interventions such as manual lymphatic drainage, compression therapy, and exercise to manage and reduce fluid accumulation. Early detection and proper management are crucial in addressing lymphatic fluid accumulation and improving your overall quality of life.

Lymphatic Drainage Massage

In the world of physical therapy, we use lymphatic drainage massage techniques to help your body’s lymphatic system properly flush out backed up lymph fluid. These techniques include something called manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), compression therapy, and other prescribed exercises. MLD involves gentle, rhythmic movements that encourage lymph flow, while compression therapy employs garments to support the reduction of swelling.

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.

Massaging a Woman

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.
Doctor gynecologist
physiotherapist-performing-therapeutic-massage-male-client

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.

Client Testimonials

I cannot recommend Sonali highly enough, she’s truly incredible!
Had a great experience here, front desk person Veronica is very nice and helpful. It was a delight to have Kiko as my therapist. She is very knowledgeable, easy to talk to/work with, and very thorough. She helped me find the perfect exercises that were very doable to help me progress and I progressed so fast in ways that I couldn’t imagine before. Thank you so much 😊
Went to Beyond Basics for treatment of abdominal pain ,as recommended by my doctor . Kiko treated me , she was very professional and a listened to all my concerns ,and made me feel much better as to my condition . She was very knowledgeable and very helpfull . I highly recommend her.
Emily Moore was fantastic! Great bedside manner and helpful. The whole team was very friendly
So appreciative of the staff at Beyond Basics, especially Emily Moore! Emily was immensely helpful as I navigate my endometriosis journey. During our sessions I feel like I got some real answers around my pain - I so, so appreciate her. Our visits and the exercises she recommended have resulted in noticeable improvement over just a few short months. Highly recommend!
I have worked with Beyond Basics for over 15 years. I have an underlying chronic problem that I will have to manage for the rest of my life. With their multitude of skills, Beyond Basics has given me the therapy and strategies to go from acute pelvic pain, severe back, and postural problems to being able to manage my underlying problems with resilience and support. And, with their help and guidance I have avoided back surgery.

The therapy and commitment at BB are on an entirely different level from therapy available any other Physical Therapy clinic I have ever encountered. It is entirely unique.
Staff is friendly and efficient. Kiko is so easy to talk to, super informative, genuinely caring & kind, very knowledgeable about the pelvic floor as well as how other areas of the body work with it, and she also gave a great referral when my condition seemed to need treatment outside of her scope of practice. I highly recommend Kiko!
I wasn't sure how soon I'd be able to resume running after my ACL surgery. For a few months, I received regular treatment from the staff, and each session was designed to increase my strength without overtaxing my knee. They kept a careful eye on my development and modified the plan as necessary. I'm jogging lightly now and feel secure once more.
I had constant neck stiffness from long hours at a desk job, which eventually turned into headaches. Physiotherapy gave me relief I didn’t think was possible. Through posture correction, ergonomic advice, and gentle manual therapy, I’ve been pain-free and more productive than ever.
It’s taken a year of different medical opinions but I’ve finally found the proper treatment with Beyond Basics Pt. Their therapists have a wide range of experiences and deep knowledge about pelvic floor and body mechanics to approach the treatment. I’m very thankful to have such smart and caring people helping me get better.
My son has autism and struggles with motor coordination. His physiotherapy sessions are tailored to his needs, full of playful yet purposeful activities. He looks forward to every visit and we’ve noticed significant improvements in his balance, posture, and ability to focus during tasks.
Sonali Patel at Beyond Basis is an incredibly smart, kind, and effective pelvic floor PT. She was great during our sessions and also gave me the tools to continue healing on my own, without ever pushing unnecessary visits. I’d absolutely recommend her and will definitely come back to her if anything ever comes up again.
Kiko is exactly what you want in a PT… Attentive and clearly loves what she does, all with a sense of humor. You’ll be lucky if you get her..
After undergoing abdominal surgery, I was struggling with swelling, stiffness, and a general feeling of heaviness that wouldn’t go away. My doctor mentioned lymphatic drainage as a way to speed up healing and reduce inflammation, so I decided to give it a try. I had no idea how much of a difference it would make…The sessions were incredibly relaxing yet deeply effective. My therapist used gentle, rhythmic movements to encourage lymph flow, and I could actually feel the tension releasing from my body. After just a couple of appointments, I noticed a significant decrease in swelling, and my overall discomfort was much lower…What surprised me most was how much this therapy helped beyond just reducing swelling. My digestion improved, my energy levels increased, and I felt more ""normal"" again after weeks of post surgical sluggishness. If you are recovering from surgery, I cannot recommend lymphatic drainage enough it was truly a game changer in my healing process!
I saw Harsh during my pregnancy for severe pubic pain and for preparation for birth. Harsh is incredibly knowledgeable and professional, and also has a very kind bedside manner. She always made me feel very comfortable, and it was great to work with her. I was able to manage my pain better because of our sessions. She is great!
For years, I struggled with bladder issues that slowly started to affect my daily life. Sneezing, laughing, or even just going for a short walk could lead to embarrassing leaks, and I found myself constantly planning my day around bathroom access. I thought this was just something I had to live with until I found pelvic floor therapy. From the very first session, I felt heard and understood. My therapist took the time to explain what was happening with my body in a way that made sense, and for the first time, I realized that this was not just ""part of getting older"" or something I had to tolerate. The exercises were gentle but effective, and within just a few weeks, I started noticing changes. I could go longer without worrying about sudden urges, and my confidence began to return. Now, a few months later, I feel like a completely different person. No more wearing pads ‘just in case’ or feeling nervous about long car rides. If you are dealing with bladder dysfunction, please don’t wait as long as I did pelvic floor therapy truly works, and I only wish I had started sooner!
As an athlete, I never considered pelvic floor therapy until I started experiencing hip pain and core instability. I had no idea how much my pelvic floor contributed to overall strength and performance! My therapist tailored exercises to improve my endurance, posture, and core control. Within weeks, I felt stronger, ran more efficiently, and even reduced my risk of injury. This should be essential for any active person!
I went to go see Kiko for tailbone pain that I had ignored for 20 months since giving birth. She gave me a thorough assessment and explained the reasons behind the persisting pain. She looked at my body as a whole, not just the pelvic area and we are addressing other problem areas that have been causing the pain. I can’t believe how much I’ve improved even after just one session. Her bedside manners are great too and I feel very comfortable working with her. I highly recommend this place for all new mamas!
KIKO is everything! She helped me through a surprisingly tough postpartum period (physically & mentally) for baby #2. Every session we have a tailored approach (internal & external work) that is helping me accelerate my healing. I'm excited to do my homework and get back to business soon! Also, whenever I have new issues (pain with sneezing?!) she addresses it immediately and then, we go back to the plan. I'm so grateful for her (and the admin staff who has dealt with my re-scheduling due to having a toddler & newborn). Love Beyond Basics!
I have had an amazing experience working with Kiko. She takes a holistic approach to assess and address your individual needs. Working with Kiko has dramatically reduced the symptoms of a condition I have had for many years, when nothing else I have tried has helped. My quality of life has greatly improved and I am very grateful!
I saw Harsh during my pregnancy to strengthen my pelvic floor and prepare for birth, as well as to help combat common pregnancy discomforts. I’m seeing her now postpartum as well. Harsh is absolutely amazing!!!!!!!! She has the sweetest and most professional bedside manner and has been great at helping me to be more mindful of how I move my body, giving me helpful exercises to do at home, and most importantly, relieving pain and discomfort. I give her a lot of credit in preparing me for what was a very successful birth experience with minimal tearing, as well as helping me recover well postpartum. She is simply the best in every way!!!!!!
High quality, physical care
I found this place on Maps when my pelvic pain flared up best decision ever. I felt real progress after just a few visits.
Very knowledgeable skilled understanding and friendly. Highly recommend
Very helpful!
Sonali is one of the most caring and kind person I have come across. As a patient and most importantly as a female, to find these two qualities in a therapist are not only extremely important but also extremely rare to find.
I am working with Sonail. She is a skilled practioner both with hands and heart.
I want to thank Dr. Solani Patel. Throughout my treatment she has been gentle, polite, patient and very knowledgable. Each of the exercises she gave me were very relevant to my condition and very helpful.
Beyond basics is such an amazing space for rehabbing postpartum pains and aches.
The therapists are incredibly knowledgeable, kind, gentle, and wonderful at their job!
As a dancer, I received the expert care I needed to return to work with confidence.
Beyond Basics is one the best places to go for physical therapy.... I'm extremely happy I started going here, and it's very convenient, being that it's directly across the street from Grand Central. My physical therapist, Radhi Kadakia, is awesome and highly recommended!
Vivian is fantastic! I felt like in just a few minutes she identified the reason I’ve been having so much so joint and hip area oain for the past couple of years. I had seen multiple different docs/specialists and no one had been able to figure anything out. She gave me some exercises to help gain more connectivity and activation on my glutes (I over-rely on my core and quads and not enough in my posterior chain), and when I said I’d be more likely to do them if I had a video demo she kindly did demos and let me record them!

I’ll also add that I’m a childbirth educator and both doula and have been recommending this practice for years because colleagues and clients have raved about them but only recently did I get to actually experience this for myself. (In fact, I ran into one of my birth class students when I went to my appointment!) Now I can recommend even more highly!
Emily Moore is the most insightful, ingenious and effective PT I have ever worked with, and I've worked with over a dozen over the past 30 years. I wish they were a little more Medicare compliant, but even if it costs more, to me, it's worth it.
PT Danielle is phenomenal. She knows about the entire body. She gave me exercises for my upper right back which are paying off. BBPT sends you a follow-up email with videos about how to do the exercises. They are awesome.
Carson has been extremely informative and helpful in my PT journey. She has been great at keeping me at ease and explaining to process, and being straight forward about our goals in therapy. Very glad I found Carson and Beyond Basics.
I had a great experience at Beyond Basics! I was nervous about going to physical therapy, but Sonali was so professional and nice, which made me feel a lot more comfortable. Sonali fully solved my pelvic floor issues in only a few sessions. She gave me stretches to do on my own time to move my progress along and also to ensure I don't lose any progress I've made. The receptionist Jasmine is also great-she is really helpful when it comes to scheduling appointments. I can't recommend Beyond Basics enough!
Great care - wonderful therapists. Head and shoulders above most other Physical Therapy practices.
Sonali was wonderful! Extremely knowledgeable and understanding. Excellent facility.
The waiting room--always decorated--is a welcoming space. Makela is respectful, resourceful and wonderfully clear in spoken and physical instruction. It is truly a pleasure to work with her,
I highly recommend Beyond Basics Physical Therapy. Great staff!
Danielle Santora is exceptionally well-informed, a great listener and and a great educator. She is that rare person who knows her business and has the sensitivity to deal with a delicate subject.
Eliza is amazing! I am seeing her for pelvic floor PT due to pregnancy related discomfort and in just 2 sessions she has helped reduce my pain/discomfort a lot. She has a very kind and comforting bedside manner and makes you feel very at ease. I highly recommend her.
Sonali Patel is an excellent physical therapist. She is very knowledgable about pelvic health, and has great manual therapy and communication skills. I highly recommend her.
This place is amazing!!! I worked with Sonali. She was extremely knowledgable and our sessions were very thorough. Sonali was so compassionate and helped me feel so supported. I felt like she really understood what I was going through. I saw great improvements and am very satisfied with the whole experience. Highly recommend!
Wonderful place, I've worked with Makela previously, she's "as good as it gets". Natural healer, empathetic, pleasant, smart,,,,,,,what more can u ask for?
Vivian Zhang at Beyond Basic PT is awesome! She took my concerns seriously and, using exercises and physical releases, improved my breathing and quality of life.
My experience with Beyond Basics has been outstanding! Danielle is incredibly insightful, professional, and an excellent communicator. She is truly an expert and I am very grateful to have her in my journey!
Sonali Patel is a miracle worker! I came to Beyond Basics with really bad TMJ issues and Sonali was able to provide me almost instant relief from years of tension. I've never felt better and she taught me some really awesome tips I can use myself moving forward. Overall I had a really great experience at Beyond Basics!
I’ve now been to Beyond Basics at two different points in my life for two different reasons. They are truly the experts. I walk away from each session in awe of the deep knowledge base of my physical therapist Sonali, who I trust and respect deeply. I have dealt with other physical therapy offices in the past and nothing can compare to the level of care, comfort, professionalism, efficiency, and effectiveness of this office. I actually look forward to my appointments. Highly recommend for anyone with GI issues of any kind or has had a baby!
I highly recommend Beyond Basics for pelvic floor PT. My therapist, Vivian, was friendly, thoughtful, respectful, and knowledgeable. She knows what she’s doing and made great suggestions for exercises I could do on my own. I had great results in combination with treatment recommended by my doctor. The facility is clean and staff are welcoming. Highly recommend.
A terrific therapist who made an awkward procedure comfortable and normal. She is smart, sensitive , knowledgeable and a delight to be with during therapy
Beyond Basics is the Physical Therapy place to go for exceptional, friendly, knowledgeable, and personalized care for your physical rehabilitation, particularly following surgery and pelvic floor strengthening. Danielle, Physical Therapist, is awesome!
Incredibly caring, experienced and professional. Highly recommended.
Makela is an amazing PT. The office staff is wonderful and the space is great. Highly recommend.
Danielle Santora saved my life! I have made more progress working with her than any other PT. She’s incredibly kind, always willing to meet you where you’re at but not afraid to push you to be better. I would not be anywhere close to where I am today without her detailed and consistent guidance.
Rachel at Beyond Basics downtown is an outstanding, highly skilled, patient, kind and dedicated physical therapist. I love going to see her, she helps me so much. *Highly* recommended!
Sonali is outstanding. She is very knowledgible and helpful. Plus, very pleasant.
I was afraid to go out because of my overactive bladder.  Vivian Zhang saved my life.  My life improved tremendously after spending two months with her.

She is very patient, knowledgeable, and professional.  She spends a full hour with me which I could not find in any other physical therapy.  She gave me so much attention and continued to look for the root cause of my problems.  She explains the purpose of the exercises.  She teaches me the exercises and makes sure I do it correctly.  She will check my understanding in the next session to make sure I do it correctly.  If I don’t do it correctly, she will find another way to explain to me and check my understanding.   All other physical therapy just spends 30 minutes on me and leaves me alone to do the exercises myself.  They don’t check to see if I am doing it correctly.  Before coming to Beyond Basic, I was in another physical therapy for a year and was not able correct my overactive bladder problem.  I am so lucky to have found Vivian and Beyond Basic.
You don't take my insurance.
Very clean. Therapists are super friendly and extremely professional. Very knowledgeable and walk you through everything.
Superb and attentive care. Highly recommended!
I've really appreciated my experience so far at Beyond Basics, working with Makela. I was nervous going into pelvic floor physical therapy and she was respectful and considerate of my hesitation. She also makes a great effort to connect with other members of my treatment team, which makes me feel like I'm being supported holistically. I have already noticed improvement in my daily life, and I'm very grateful!
I’ve been seeing Vivian Zhang for almost a month now for chronic lower back pain. Her approach from the get-go has been based on translating my narrative of symptoms into a comprehensive treatment plan, combining targeted exercises, corrective behaviors, and skillful musculoskeletal manipulation. After almost a year of suffering pain I can finally see the end! Beyond Basics justifies their name. To speak nothing of those rockstar plants in the waiting area!
Beyond Basics has the best physical therapists I've been to in NYC. They've provided the best treatment for chronic fibromyalgia, reducing my pain & increasing my functionality enormously. Highly recommended.
I had known about pelvic floor therapy for more than year before making my first appointment. My only regret is not booking my appointment sooner. Pelvic PT has helped me overcome a long-standing issue, and it has been life-changing.

From the moment I walked in, the team made me feel welcomed and supported. They took the time to understand my concerns and designed a personalized treatment plan just for me.

Vivian used a holistic approach, combining various techniques and exercises to address my pelvic floor concerns. With her guidance, I regained control and experienced a remarkable improvement in my symptoms.

What impressed me the most was her caring and empathetic approach. She created a safe space where I could openly discuss my concerns, and she provided exceptional support throughout the entire journey.

I am forever grateful to Beyond Basics. If you're struggling with pelvic floor issues, don't hesitate to seek their help. They are truly outstanding in their care and commitment to patient well-being.
Beyond Basics has been nothing short of transformative in my health journey. After years of having my pain dismissed by various doctors, I found an OBGYN who identified that I had a hypertonic pelvic floor and should seek pelvic floor physical therapy.

I searched on Google and am so grateful I came across Beyond Basics - this is truly an outstanding place if you are looking for pelvic floor experts. I have never encountered such holistic, patient-affirming care before.

I was fortunate to be matched with Joanna, one of their incredible physical therapists. Joanna is so knowledgeable and an absolute joy to work with. She is not only a very skilled pelvic floor therapists, she is also patient, incredibly emotionally intelligent, and funny, and could brighten up even the worst day in my long healing journey with the crack of a joke.

Thanks to Joanna and Beyond Basics, I have learned so much about my body and have developed concrete tools and pelvic floor relaxation techniques. I feel empowered in my own journey and it was worth every cent !

I will say that while the price of sessions can feel daunting, they do make an effort to make pelvic health more accessible through a sliding scale and spacing out sessions. Their goal is not to make you dependent on their physical therapists, but to help you develop tools and skills so you can take control of your own health and live a pain-free life.

I cannot recommend Beyond Basics enough. I hope one day all women will know about pelvic floor physical therapy and be able to access this amazing practice !
At Beyond Basics I found the help I needed for my Postpartum recovery after a traumatic delivery. Little did I know all the benefits I could get from pelvic floor PT. Here I learned a lot of tools to have a better pelvic health and improve my wellbeing. I really recommend pelvic floor PT to all women! This will help you for life.
Vivian has been my PT and she is great! She has helped me in a lot of ways, physically and emotionally, she’s caring and very knowledgeable.
Also, the girls from front desk are very kind.
Beyond basics is a great place!
My experience with Beyond Basics has truly been life changing!

After having a variety of symptoms without a true diagnosis for months, I found Beyond Basics, and, while I was completely unfamiliar with pelvic floor physical therapy before going there, I quickly realized the benefits even after my first session.

I've now been working with Vivian Zhang for almost a year, and I am continuously amazed by her work. Out of all of the medical professionals that I've worked with in the past, Vivian has shown the most care and interest in my well being. Healing is definitely a journey, and Vivian has shown the utmost respect and patience for me as I work through ups and downs of my personal path. With Vivian, I feel like I have a trusted resource and someone who genuinely listens to me, and that has made such a difference in my recovery.

I cannot thank Vivian, and Beyond Basics as a whole, enough for the improvement that they've made to my quality of life and I highly recommend this practice to anyone who is even remotely considering pelvic floor PT!
Eliza was so great to work with. She was very helpful. She is caring and compassionate. She helped me feel better. Grateful for all of her support. Can’t say enough good things. Would be better if they accepted insurance though.
Beyond Basics PT identified my needs and listened to my concerns as well as planned a treatment regimen that addressed the fundamental causes of my issues. Makayla knowledge regarding body mechanics is extraordinary.
I needed a specialized pt called pelvic floor therapy following rectal surgery. I found Vivian Zhang a very able and knowledgeable therapist at Beyond Basics Physical Therapy on William Street in lower Manhattan. After six weekly one hour sessions, I had a significant improvement in returning to a normal life. Vivian was very clear in her instructions, provided illustrated email instructions for at-home exercises and was available via email as needed. She was also very patient and kind with this 87 year old client.
Dr. Spielman and the Beyond Basic staff are amazing. The front desk is kind, friendly and very helpful when booking appointments.

Dr. Spielman is a life saver. She helped me at a time when I had experienced months of debilitating pain. I had seen multiple specialists and tried various medications to no avail.

Dr. Spielman was the first doctor to diagnose me with an overly tight pelvic floor. She has helped me with workouts, stretches and provided me with important anatomical information on my road to recovery.

I am so grateful for her and I can't recommend both Dr. Spielman and Beyond Basics enough!
I received excellent care at Beyond Basics
I have been a patient at the Beyondbasics PT for almost 3 years and they successfully helped me with both the pelvic floor and orthopedic issues.
I have health issues and I have used several physical therapists in the past.
Beyond Basics is the best!!
They were recommended to me by my doctors
And I am grateful for the recommendations.
Beyondbasics PTs are knowledgeable, attentive, patient and kind.
Front desk representatives are very friendly and kind.
Thank you
I am extremely grateful for Ekta's work. She figured out a complex problem within 2 visits. Importantly, I now understand the problem and know what to do to fix it. I went to so many medical specialists and Pelvic PT's and they couldn't figure out problem. I highly recommend Beyond Basics a perfect name.
Excellent treatment, knowledgeable therapist. Very informative and comfortable experience.
Joanna was super helpful, knowledgeable, and caring. Would absolutely recommend!
Woman having physiotherapy session

Choose Beyond Basics Physical Therapy for Lymphatic Drainage Massage in New York

If you’re experiencing lymph fluid buildup or blocked lymph nodes, the physical therapists at Beyond Basics Physical Therapy can help. We’ll work with your primary care physician and/or surgeon to develop a treatment plan tailored to you. Get started by booking an appointment at our Midtown or Downtown location.