Manual lymphatic drainage is a gentle massage technique that can reduce swelling from soft-tissue injuries, reduce pain and speed healing time.
Lymphatic drainage may be safe if instructed by your lymphoedema specialist; if any questions arise or there are concerns, inform them. However, drainage should not be performed if there is an infection present.
Causes
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a gentle massage technique used to stimulate your lymphatic system in order to improve your circulation and decrease swelling. MLD may be combined with other treatments, such as compression therapy.
Lymph fluid travels throughout your body, draining waste and transporting white blood cells that help strengthen your immune system. However, surgery or certain health conditions may interrupt this flow, leading to lymphedema (an accumulation of fluid in a localized area).
Lymphatic drainage massage can help ease swelling caused by long flights or wearing high heels, reduce nipple swelling in breastfeeding mothers, and unclog ducts thereby improving milk flow to babies. Furthermore, lymphatic drainage massage may be used as part of cancer patients’ radiation or chemotherapy treatments to lower their risk of lymphedema; research indicates it helps alleviate its symptoms such as pain, tightness, heaviness and tightness in arms or legs affected.
Symptoms
Lymphatic drainage massage works to divert blocked lymph to healthy lymph nodes that filter and filter away toxic materials in the fluid, helping reduce risk of infections and illness while simultaneously improving immunity function and relieving skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, or psoriasis.
Lymphatic drainage massage helps relieve swelling caused by medical treatment or cancer surgery. One type of this therapy, manual lymphatic drainage or simple lymphatic drainage (SLD), involves manipulating specific areas on your body to encourage lymph flow.
Your lymphatic system transports lymph, a liquid composed of white blood cells, through all your tissues and organs in a similar fashion to blood vessels; carrying it through tubes in your body such as your limbs, head, trunk and pelvic area. Lymph has many uses from eliminating abnormal cells to removing waste products and managing inflammation.
Treatment
Manual lymphatic drainage is a gentle massage designed to stimulate your lymph vessels and nodes, helping the lymph nodes drain away waste and protein from tissues while increasing production of lymphocytes to fight infections.
Lymphatic drainage massage can help relieve swelling caused by cancer treatments and can prevent the return of it after breast surgery. It is often combined with decongestive exercises and compression therapy in order to treat lymphedema.
Studies demonstrate the efficacy of lymphatic drainage can increase venous flow, reduce fatigue, and raise your pain threshold. However, lymphatic drainage should not be conducted if you have active congestive heart failure or kidney disease.
Speak to your physical or occupational therapist about how lymphatic drainage could benefit you, then reach out to Prairie Rehabilitation today in Worthington, Avera, Oxford, Jackson Tea Fulda Hartford or Brandon for an appointment near you!
Prevention
Manual lymph drainage can unclog blocked lymph vessels and keep this essential fluid moving smoothly, while simultaneously clearing away any build-up of waste products from within your cells that might lead to infections or illness.
Lymphatic drainage massage therapy may offer cancer patients relief after surgery or radiation treatments by decreasing swelling afterward, as well as helping prevent lymphedema (which occurs when lymphatic systems become compromised) from occurring.
Recently, in a study involving women undergoing axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer were provided with manual lymph drainage (MLD), in addition to guidelines, exercise therapy, and skin care products. MLD significantly reduced arm lymphoedema development over time compared with controls who did not receive MLD.
MLD may help pregnant women reduce fluid retention, improve breast swelling and unplugged ducts associated with breastfeeding, relieve arthritis pain and other soft tissue injuries and even alleviate arthritis pain relief. It should not be used for acute infectious or fever cases or serious circulatory issues such as venous disease or thrombosis.
