How it works
When damage to your body happens through disease, injury, or surgery you will most likely experience swelling, inflammation and pain. The lymphatic system kicks in, taking tissue fluid, bacteria, proteins and waste products away from the tissues around skin, fat, muscle and bone. If the lymphatic system is not working correctly through damage or is stressed, the fluid in the tissues builds up (as when a river is dammed and flooding occurs). Swelling occurs when the amount of fluid in an area is greater than the capacity of the lymphatic system to transport it away. Lymphedema can, therefore, be defined as an abnormal accumulation of protein rich fluid in the tissues. Manual lymphatic drainage therapy moves lymph fluids and encourages optimal lymphatic function which is important for overall blood circulation, immune responses, blood filtration, homeostasis, tissue healing, and digestion. It also reroutes lymph into existing pathways to improve the lymphatic return to the blood stream. It often is used in combination with Combined Decongestive Therapy. |
Conditions treated:
Manual Lymphatic Drainage can be applied in the treatment of many different conditions including:
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