Massage and Lymphodema?

Question

I am a MT but I have never had a client with excess Lymphodema, i know to massage towards the heart with long strokes and wrapping the legs can be beneficial also...can any other MTs help me with this?

Answer 1

Hi there,

First off the gold standard treatment of lymphedema from the National Lymphedema Network is complete/complex decongestive therapy that consists of manual lymph drainge, skin care, compression. The therapist will teach the patient how to wrap and also how to do self MLD. you really need to take the class to be able to wrap correctly as wrapping wrong can cause damage and excessive swelling.

The massage touch is a lighter touch, the therapist will drain the main nodes first, clavicle, axilla, and inguinals, then start from the head and work the full body with reverse order to the main nodes.

Usually patients will have to have a doctors prescription for treatment, and the gold standard is a certified lymphedema therapist.

Regular massage can be beneficial though, any type of stroking stimulates a response, you just have to do lighter work, I would say like a very gentle soft Swedish.

I have graphs and pictures of lymph nodes on my site you are welcome to look at and also there is a lymphedema therapist group on yahoo, I'm sure the owner of it can answer any questions or concerns you have if you did work on a patient, or if you like email me and I'll answer anything else you might want to know.

Answer 2

There are schools that teach lymphatic massage, the techniques, how to wrap, etc. It's about $3500 for the course. I'm a massage therapist, did my research paper on lymphodema, it really isn't something that is self-taught. I talked to nurses at a local hospital who treat people with lymphodema, they had to go to take a course to be able to do it. Some courses are geared for spa treatments, some are geared toward medical treatments.

Answer 3

Related - Muscles, pain and referred pain
Read - The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies.