Lymphatic Drainage

Manual lymphatic drainage or lymphatic drainage has progressively received, in recent years, numerous scientific confirmations about its real effectiveness and usefulness.

By means of specific maneuvers, which are performed with one or two hands at the level of the skin and the first subcutaneous layers, this method is applied on the peripheral edema and in the more proximal area, accelerating or restoring the flow within the lymphatic vessels and lymph node stations. .

Through this manual technique the therapist can bring about a contextual and immediate improvement of the edematous (volume reduction) and symptomatological picture, but it is equally true that an incorrect lymphatic drainage technique, which does not consider the anatomy and phlebolymphatic physiology can be harmful to the patient.

The lower limb represents the terrain most affected by phlebolymphedema, but also the edema of the upper limb, or large arm, constitutes a second important field of application of this technique, and its application can also be extended to the other skin surfaces of the body.

Manual lymphatic drainage, differing greatly from other traditional massage techniques, must respect some principles:

– The pressures exerted with the lymphatic drainage maneuvers are decidedly lower than the other types of massage as the lymphatic network on which it acts is the superficial one, so it is not necessary to reach deep areas of the body with the hands. In addition, the pressures inside the lymphatic vessels are very low, so even those used for drainage must not exceed 30-40 mmHg in order not to cause the collapse of the lymphatic network, and not to cause pain in the lymph node stations

– Any type of breakdown on the skin should be avoided, as it would be mistakenly reddened with the production of vasodilation (rubbing = redness = vasodilation = blood hyperflow = edema)

– The therapist must work at much slower rhythms than those of traditional massage, as the lymphatic vessels contract at an average rate of about 12-15 times per minute

– In manual lymphatic drainage you must not use any type of cream (except in special cases), which can be passed on the skin at the end of the treatment

– Lymphatic drainage must not cause pain, but the patient must receive beneficial sensations from the treatment with a relaxation effect

– Each maneuver is performed by directing the thrust according to the anatomy-physiological flow. In case of pathology, the maneuvers facilitate the reabsorption of edema, reactivate the hypofunctional lymph nodes and stimulate the opening and flow through the existing collateral pathways. The single maneuver must therefore be directed towards the reference lymph node discharge station, from the periphery to the center, from the mountain, i.e., the area from which the lymph comes, to the valley, or the area where the lymph is directed.