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Decongestive Lymphoedema Therapy
Combined Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) and Decongestive Lymphoedema Therapy (DLT) are gentle non-invasive therapies that work with our lymphatic system. Most of us don't pay our lymph system much attention or even know what it is until it's not working properly. It's very important in keeping you healthy and shares many glands and organs with your immune system.
While the cardiovascular system brings nourishment and nutrient to all the cells in your body, it’s your lymphatic system that removes the cellular waste after all the goodness is extracted. Amongst other things, your lymph system helps keep your body clean. It's made up of many delicate structures, and is right throughout your body from just under the surface of your skin to deep in the tissues and organs. It's larger pathways run along side major artery and vein structures which help propel lymph fluid as it's cleaned in the lymph nodes on it's journey home back to the cardiovascular system at the base of the neck.
If all or part of a major lymphatic filter station (group of lymph nodes) is surgically removed, it’s possible by using MLD & CDPT to re-direct fluid from that region into another region. This is vital from a prevention point of view. Lymph fluid needs to be cleaned, it needs to move through the lymph system. If it's not re-directed, the body can only compensate for so long, fluid will begin to pool at the missing filter station and without help, the lymph system in this region will eventually collapse. This pathology is called Lymphoedema
Not all swelling is lymphoedema. There are generally three main origins for oedema - they lymph system (high protein), cardiovascular (low protein) or metabolic (hormonal). It is vital to get a correct diagnosis of which form of oedema you may be experiencing. For example, diuretics which are a treatment protocol for low protein oedemas (cardiovascular) can exacerbate and make a lymphoedema worse as it strips vital fluid from the tissues which are essential for the chemical bonding necessary to transport the large proteins from the tissue and into the lymph system.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Decongestive Lymphoedema Therapy are not a cure for lymphoedema but are designed to reduce oedema & increase limb mobility. This helps reduces pain and discomfort and improves patient wellbeing. MLD & CDPT assist patients achieve a better quality of life and teaches them how to make better choices and work with their new tolerances. Using MLD & CDPT to treat lymphoedema, life can become 'normal' or near normal again. More information on lymphoedema can be found by clicking the above link.
While the cardiovascular system brings nourishment and nutrient to all the cells in your body, it’s your lymphatic system that removes the cellular waste after all the goodness is extracted. Amongst other things, your lymph system helps keep your body clean. It's made up of many delicate structures, and is right throughout your body from just under the surface of your skin to deep in the tissues and organs. It's larger pathways run along side major artery and vein structures which help propel lymph fluid as it's cleaned in the lymph nodes on it's journey home back to the cardiovascular system at the base of the neck.
If all or part of a major lymphatic filter station (group of lymph nodes) is surgically removed, it’s possible by using MLD & CDPT to re-direct fluid from that region into another region. This is vital from a prevention point of view. Lymph fluid needs to be cleaned, it needs to move through the lymph system. If it's not re-directed, the body can only compensate for so long, fluid will begin to pool at the missing filter station and without help, the lymph system in this region will eventually collapse. This pathology is called Lymphoedema
Not all swelling is lymphoedema. There are generally three main origins for oedema - they lymph system (high protein), cardiovascular (low protein) or metabolic (hormonal). It is vital to get a correct diagnosis of which form of oedema you may be experiencing. For example, diuretics which are a treatment protocol for low protein oedemas (cardiovascular) can exacerbate and make a lymphoedema worse as it strips vital fluid from the tissues which are essential for the chemical bonding necessary to transport the large proteins from the tissue and into the lymph system.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Decongestive Lymphoedema Therapy are not a cure for lymphoedema but are designed to reduce oedema & increase limb mobility. This helps reduces pain and discomfort and improves patient wellbeing. MLD & CDPT assist patients achieve a better quality of life and teaches them how to make better choices and work with their new tolerances. Using MLD & CDPT to treat lymphoedema, life can become 'normal' or near normal again. More information on lymphoedema can be found by clicking the above link.
Some other conditions that benefit from Manual Lymphatic Drainage & Complete Decongestive Physical Therapy
- Post surgery recovery
- Post cancer treatment - chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Scar treatment
- Lymphoedemas caused from trauma or surgery – removal of lymphoid structures, endocrine glands or other organs where major scaring causes barriers and damages lymph capillaries.
- Burns such as radiation or chemical burns which may also be caused from radiation/chemotherapy.
- Filariasis where lymph vessels become blocked due to parasitic infection where eggs are laid in the vessels.
- Other types of oedemas such as lipoedema which is due to insufficient fat cell absorption (metabolism issue) and phleboedemas which is due to venous insufficiency (vascular issue).
Reduction Phase of Decongestive Treatment
Regular MLD/DLT treatments are given. Only specialized lymphatic techniques are used tailored specifically to the patients lymphatic needs. After each treatment, compression bandages or lymphatic taping is used to facilitate lymph transport and break up fibrotic tissue. Patients are provided with self-care guidelines and taught about their lymph system and how to support it. Remedial exercises are provided.
Compression Bandaging
Compression bandages become a necessary part of treatment in the later stages of lymphoedema. As lymphoedema progresses through its stages, the lymph fluid becomes increasingly more stagnant. This eventually causes irreversible changes to soft tissue structures which become hard and fibrous. Once fibrosis sets in, Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is no longer enough to shift lymph fluid or support the struggling lymph system. It becomes necessary to use bandaging and special MLD techniques to break up the fibrous tissue between MLD treatments. Bandaging also serves to provide an external support against which the muscle pump can use to aid lymph transit through the lymph capillaries. It also helps to support the soft tissues and reduce pain and discomfort for the patient.
Maintenance Phase of Decongestive Treatment:
Compression Garments or Pneumatic Pumps
Compression Garments or Pneumatic Pumps
Once a reduction has been achieved, compression garments are ordered to maintain the limb in it's current state and support the lymphatic system. We take care of all the measuring and ordering for you. Compression garments now also come in a range of colours. It is recommended that compression garments are replaced every six months to ensure the adequate level of compression is maintained. Over time the level of pressure required to be therapeutic deteriorates and they are no longer effective.
It is recommended that patients continue to have regular MLD treatments and that a reduction treatment program be undertaken ever six months or so.
It is recommended that patients continue to have regular MLD treatments and that a reduction treatment program be undertaken ever six months or so.