Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage
What is Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage?
Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a type of medical massage that stimulates the body's lymphatic drainage system, by applying gentle pressure in targeted areas. Encouraging the movement of lymph fluids around the body, helping to remove waste and toxins from body's tissue and reduce swelling. This massage is to treat medical conditions such as lymphedema or fibromyalgia and aid in the recovery of various illnesses. It is also beneficial to have this massage following various types of surgery to reduce swelling.
What is the Lymphatic Drainage System?
The Lymphatic system is an organ system (part of the immune system) it consists of a large network of lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes and lymphoid tissues. It moves fluid from the body's tissues into the blood circulation. Fluid moves through the one way lymphatic vessels, passing through the lymph nodes and plays a vital part in our immune system function. Lymph nodes have a filtration system that contain white blood cells that attack bacteria, viruses, damaged or cancerous cells. The lymph fluid then carries the waste products back into the bloodstream. The liver or kidneys remove the waste from the blood and passes them out through bowel movements or urine.
The lymph fluid is always flowing. If its stops swelling can occur from build up of lymph fluid.
What causes a build up of lymph fluid?
A continual movement of lymph fluid circulating throughout the body is imperative to the immune system. There are many reasons why the lymph fluid can build up to include:
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Medical conditions such as:
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Lymphedema (the medical term for lymph fluid build up)
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Fibromyalgia
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Cancer (this affects 20% of women that have had breast cancer)
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Cancer treatments that involve removing the lymph nodes
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A build up of fluid due to deep vein thrombosis
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Infection or trauma in the lympatics system
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Auto immune disease
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Rheumatoid arthritis
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Health conditions that affect blood flow to the hands and feet
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Thyroid problems
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Following surgery such as:
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Lipectomy (surgery to remove fat from the body)
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Cosmetic surgery such as tummy tuck
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Vascular surgery (such as vein stripping)
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Removal of lymph nodes
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Radiation therapy
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Many surgeons refuse treatment until the patient has arranged follow up lymphatc drainage massage to reduce the risk of lymph fluid build up.
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How can massage help?
Our expertly trained therapist is able to apply gentle pressure using a series of massage techniques in a specific pattern, the direction of lymph flow. The light rythmic movements stimulate the lymphatic system, helping the lymph fluid to move easily through the lymph nodes. Reducing the swelling from build up of lymph fluid.
If you are unsure if you could benefit from manual lymphatic drainage massage, you are welcome to have a consultation with our Nurse prior to treatment.
Treatments are carried out in our clinic based in Exmouth,Devon.
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We recommend to have a course as 3 to start, results are seen overtime with consistency. Save when you purchase a course of 3 or 6.