Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Question 1

Lymphatic Drainage encourages?

Answer 1

Lymph flow and reduces certain types of edema

Question 2

What are the indications?

Answer 2

1. Edema
2. Post surgical scarring
3. Acute or subacute trauma
4. Soft tissue restrictions

Question 3

How to perform?

Answer 3

1. Light pressure, repetitive techniques in a pump style techniques
2. Techniques repeated a minimum of 5-7 times
3. Strokes are unidirectional and overlapping
4. Pressure is applied centripetally (toward the heart)
5. Start proximal lymph nodes and working distally towards the edematous site
   - Nodal pumping
   - Stationary circles
   - Open C
   - Local technique aka shaving

Question 4

What are the effects?

Answer 4

1. Encourage lymph flow
2. Decrease in edema
3. Reduction of scar tissue
4. Increases of urine output
5. Increases of concentrations of histamine, corticosteroids and noradrenaline in urine output
6. Decreases pain perception
7. Decrease in sympathetic nervous system

Question 5

What are the contraindications?

Answer 5

1. Lymph drainage distal to the congestion site
2. Chronic heart failure
3. Acute conditions due to bacterial or viral infection
4. Recent thrombosis
5. Low protein edemas due to kidney pathologies
6. Malignancy
7. Lymphatic obstruction from parasite