The benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Hello there, today we would like to tackle the benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage, a technique that stimulates the flow of the lymph.
Lymph is a fluid that transports white blood cells, oxygen and nutrients to tissues throughout the body and plays an important part in the good function of your immune system. The key functions of the lymphatic system are to:
· Channel fluids escaped from body cells and tissues back to the blood flow whilst removing metabolic waste and foreign toxins
· Absorb and transport fats and fatty acids from the digestive tract
· Act as the power-house of the body’s immune system by storing defence cells called lymphocytes in its lymph nodes and transporting white blood cells to and from these nodes
Working with the lymphatic system can benefit a variety of conditions and is also a great way of proactively maintaining good health. Manual Lymphatic Drainage differs from a soft tissue or Sports massage. It is gentler and involves repetitive circular and pumping movements as it aims to shift the lymph fluid around the body.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage was first developed in the 1930s by the Danish Doctors, Emil and Estrid Vodder to treat lymphoedema - a condition of localized swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system. This can lead to limb heaviness, weakness or pain and is often a result of injury, cancer treatment, surgery or also genetic disorders. Causes of lymphoedema may include:
· Infection and the body’s immune response – think of swelling in the neck or groin when the body is fighting flu or a bad cold
· Injury to lymph tissue or the removal of such tissue, which may occur with cancer surgery
· Cancer and cancer treatment such as radiotherapy
· More prosaically and most frequently, lack of limb movement
The benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage can be seen when dealing with swelling associated with menopause, arthritis, orthopaedic injuries, knee or hip surgery and chronic venous insufficiency. New scientific studies also indicate that Manual Lymphatic Drainage might be helpful in the treatment of fibromyalgia. It was also found helpful in reducing stiffness and improving quality of life.
The benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage are diverse. More commonly, it is a great treatment to help athletes prepare for and recover from a peak of athletic performance like a marathon or triathlon. We use it very regularly and effectively with our sports patients.
In several cases Manual Lymphatic Drainage was part of the recommended recovery program after a successful course of liposuction. Patients almost invariably report great benefits from this treatment in the recovery process.
Contact our therapist via email or phone or book an appointment directly!
However, here is the rub for most of us: our modern sedentary lifestyle generates long periods of immobility causing the lymphatic system to underperform, resulting in a weakened immune system, in the build-up of toxic waste in body tissues and in “oedema” or tissue swelling. Typically, you can expect that sort of response if you spend long hours at a desk or in meetings, use air transport on a regular basis or spend long hours every week in a car – and that describes a large proportion of the population!
Many of us try to counter the effects of immobility by organising one or two very active exercise sessions in the week such as five a side football or body pump but this may not have much of a positive impact on lymphatic drainage, as what may be gained in movement is largely cancelled out by the need to address a sudden peak in body waste elimination – signalled to you by aching muscles, the dreaded “DOMS”!
A very helpful adjunct to weekly exercise would be to receive regular Manual Lymphatic Drainage treatment. Performed by a trained therapist, this gentle form of rhythmic tissue massage and “pumping” circular motion is usually highly effective in managing and reducing affected limb swelling and also enhancing general body circulation and energy levels. This gentle technique also has a highly relaxing effect on the body as a whole. Depending on the person’s health and requirements, Manual Lymphatic Drainage may form the mainstay of the treatment or may be integrated into broader osteopathic or therapeutic massage treatment. On some rare occasions, such as in instances of acute cardiovascular or hypertensive symptoms, this treatment may need to be ruled out or delayed.
Many of our sedentary patients seek out the benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage by resorting to receiving such treatment on a monthly basis or more often still as the main antidote to immobility.
At the other end of the scale, the benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage may also be seen amongst people seriously ramping up their physical training routine in preparation of a marathon or triathlon; used in such instances in conjunction with regular Sports massage, Manual Lymphatic Drainage will enable you to draw the very best from your body “on the day”.
Although Manual Lymphatic Drainage feels quite gentle, it can be very powerful in stimulating fluid circulation including blood flow. Therefore, it may not be suitable for individuals experiencing congestive heart failure, inflammation or infection of the lymphatic vessels, risk of blood clotting or skin infections. If you have symptoms of lymphoedema, it is important to identify the cause.
Find out more
Are you based in London and keen to discover the benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage for yourself? Please feel free to book an appointment with our London based Bridge To Health Massage Therapist Marialine Cifre at 07811 363 791 or by email marialine@bridgetohealth.co.uk. Or simply book an appointment directly. She will be happy to see you at our Ealing or Uxbridge clinics.
