Lymphatic Massage and Manual Lymphatic Drainage

What is Manual Lymphatic Drainage?

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a very gentle, ‘light touch’ form of massage based on pumping, circular and spiral shaped movements, encouraging lymph fluid to flow more freely through the body.

What is the Dr Vodder method of MLD?

  • The Dr Vodder method is an advanced massage technique which moves the skin over the underlying tissues using very light, repetitive, circular and spiral movements. This creates a pumping effect which encourages the flow of the lymph fluid and drains excess fluid out of the connective tissue.
  • The Dr Vodder technique always starts with lymph nodes and lymph vessels found at the neck connecting the large lymph channels to the cardiovascular system.
  • The strokes are performed evenly and rhythmically inducing deep relaxation.

What are the benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage?

  • MLD renews, nourishes, strengthens and aids in the regeneration of cells, removes waste products, relaxes the nervous system and increases the immune system.
  • It also prevents and remedies many chronic conditions, e.g.:
    • Pain – joint swelling, muscular pain, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, migraine, chronic headaches.
    • Fluid retention – swollen feet and ankles (inc sprained ankles), puffy eyes or face
    • Respiratory conditions – sinusitis, nasal congestion
    • Immune conditions – recurring colds & flues, recurring inflammation & infections, allergies, auto-immune disorders
    • Digestive conditions – chronic constipation, flatulence, bloating, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Stress, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, lethargy

MLD is also used for:

  • Post surgery (e.g. face, neck abdomen, thighs etc) – it reduces pain, bruising and swelling. *Here at Hands on Health we perform MLD six weeks after surgery, once cleared by your doctor.*
  • Post traumatic events (e.g. accidents, sport injuries etc) – it reduces swelling, pain, bruising and inflammation
  • The treatment of lipoedema and phleboedema

What is the Lymphatic System?

  • The lymphatic system is a network of tubes throughout the body that drains fluid (called lymph) from tissues and empties it back into the bloodstream.
  • The main role of the lymphatic system includes:
    • Managing the fluid levels in the body
    • Filtering out bacteria and other body toxins
    • Producing and storing lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells which fight off pathogens)
    • Absorbing and transporting fatty acids and fats to the circulatory system
    • Protecting our bodies from pathogens (e.g. bacteria and viruses)
    • Unlike the circulation of the blood, the lymphatic system has no pumping mechanism. Instead it relies, for example, on muscular movement and breathing to assist the flow of the lymph fluid. Unfortunately the lymphatic system can become very sluggish (due to our sedentary lifestyles and high fat/high salt diets) leading to puffiness, bloating, constant tiredness, low immunity and frequent infections.

DO NOT RECEIVE LYMPH DRAINAGE IF

Because this technique moves a great deal of fluid through the body, Doctors advise people with the following conditions do NOT use lymphatic drainage massage:

  • Congestive heart failure.
  • History of blood clots or strokes.
  • Acute infection.
  • Liver problems.
  • Kidney problems.

Additional reading:

https://www.massagetherapy.com/articles/benefits-lymphatic-massage