Facts About Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Within us all there is a silent system working to keep us healthy – the lymph system. Learn more about it here...

Posted on

4 April 2017

| Last updated on 23 January 2018

The lymph system’s impact is so far reaching that many don’t even realize that minor aches and pains, low energy or susceptibility to colds and flu may be due to a sluggish lymph system and a compromised immune system.

Lymphatic fluid is created when there is an imbalance in the amount of fluid that arrives at the cells from the arteries and the amount of fluid that is taken away in the veins. This fluid can build up in and between the cells and if the imbalance is large, this fluid can be seen as swelling. If the lymph system is sluggish or damaged by surgical removal of the lymph nodes/radiation, edema can develop. Edema consists of proteins with accumulated fluid in the interstitial spaces.

The aim of MLD is to move fluid from the swollen area into an area where the lymphatic system is working normally. To do this the therapist massaging you first massages your chest and neck if you have lymphedema in your arm. It means that the fluid has somewhere to drain to when they massage your arm. When you have this massage, you will be feeling a gentle pressure, where the movements are slow and rhythmic so the lymph vessels open up. If it is a deep massage, it will not work because it flattens the small lymph vessels so that the fluid can’t drain.

SEE ALSO: Headaches, Relief is at Hand!

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a type of gentle massage which is intended to encourage the natural drainage of the lymph that carries waste products away from the tissues back toward the heart. It uses a specific amount of pressure and rhythmic circular movements to stimulate the lymph flow. By performing lymphatic drainage massage, we can stimulate the opening of the initial lymphatic and increase the volume of lymph flow by as much as 20 times. With an increase of lymph flow, immune function is increased.

After the massage your specialist may bandage the area. They use a special bandaging technique called multi-layered lymphedema bandaging. You may also wear compression garments.

There are different types of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) including Vodder, Földi, Leduc and Casley-Smith. You should only be having MLD from someone who has been trained in one of these types.

Some common reasons to have MLD treatment:

Therapeutic

Extreme amount of edema (swollen extremities or trunk)
Sport injuries
Improving scarring process
Removed or damaged lymph nodes

Aesthetic

Simple acne
Stretch mark prevention
Cellulite
Improving scar tissue healing after cosmetic surgeries
Weight loss cure (diet)

Here are some of the precautions you should take or when treatment is not indicated:

Acute inflammation or infection on the swollen area (wait for a couple of days until the body has had the chance to clean up the area)
Active malignant tumors: wait until the malignancy is treated
Thrombosis
Major heart problems

Our therapists are doing well trained in the Vodder and Földi Method of Lymphatic Drainage massage. Please call the office at 04 385 6577 and speak to Hafsa or Krisztina for further information.