Lymph Flashcards
Lymphatic Drainage
Use of gentle/light, rhythmic, manual techniques to pump fluid through superficial lymphatic capillaries
3 Primary Functions of the Lymphatic System
- Lymph vessels drain excess interstitial fluid and leaked proteins from tissue spaces & return them to the blood
- Dietary lipids & lipid-soluble vitamins (A,D,E,K) absorbed by GI tract are transported by lymphatic vessels to blood
- Lymphatic tissue initiates highly specific immune responses directed against abnormal cells or particular microbes
Thoracic Duct
Drains left side of head, neck, chest. Left upper limb, entire body below ribs into junction of internal jugular and left subclavian veins
Right lymphatic duct
drains upper right side of body into right internal jugular and right subclavian veins
Effects of Lymphatic Drainage (5)
- encourages lymph flow
- reduces edema & pain secondary to edema
- reduces excess fibrin & metabolic products in inflammatory process, lowering chance of scar tissue
- increase speed of blood flow by increasing vasomotion of arteriole smooth muscle w/o increasing local blood pressure
- increase relaxation response
when treating local edema at the acute or sub-acute stage of an injury
lymph drainage techniques applied first, followed by deeper Swedish techniques
when treating chronic edema
deeper swedish & myofascial techniques are first applied proximal to the edmatous site to release soft tissue restrictions that may be inhibiting lymph flow, followed by lymphatic drainage techniques
3 Techniques of Lymph Drainage
- Nodal Pumping
- Stationary Circles (palmar, fingers, thumb)
- Local Scoop Technique
Contraindications to Lymphatic Drainage
- acute inflammation w/ infection
- malignancy
- untreated or recent thrombosis
- untreated allergic reaction
- edema owing to right-sided Congestive Heart Failure
- kidney pathology
- damaged lymphatic system
Edema
A local or general accumulation of fluid in the interstitial tissue spaces
Causes of Edema
- increased permeability of capillaries
- obstruction of lymphatic flow due to infection, parasites, etc.
- increased capillary (or venous) pressure from heart failure
- decrease of plasma proteins accompanying liver or kidney disease, starvation, and following extensive burns
- edema resulting from acute trauma (natural part of inflammatory response) HOT AND FIRM
- lymphedema is chronic accumulation of interstitial fluid in tissues COOL (due to ischemia)
Edema Symptoms Picture
- may be generalized throughout body or local to body part
- non-pitted edema
- pitted edema
- feeling of pain, discomfort or fullness
- edematous limb may feel stiff, heavy to client w/ decreased ROM
- hematoma may be present w/ moderate or severe trauma
Non-pitted Edema
Firm and discoloured - usually following local trauma or infection
Pitted Edema
Boggy to the touch, tissue retains an indentation after pressure is applied - usually found w/ chronic pathology
Edema due to trauma
hot, firm, local and sometimes distal to injury site
