Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD)

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a very gentle, mainly superficial massage technique, working on skin and subcutaneous tissue, to assist lymph flow and aid in drainage of tissues and removal of the metabolic residues from body. This is a gentle, non-invasive manual technique that has a powerful effect on the body.

MLD is an important part of any lymph-edema treatment, but it also lessens muscles’ tensions, metabolic and blood supply disturbances, and enhances recovery from different illnesses’ postdromal fatigue-states. MLD is used for relieving swelling of lymphostasis during pregnancy or with varicose veins, in post-traumatic and post-surgery states, including the recovery after removal of tumors, both malign & benign. MLD also facilitates and improves lymph drainage in the healthy lymph vessels, which helps keep fluid away from swollen areas. Breathing techniques are an important part of this treatment.

MLD procedure always starts at neck and the massage is done on bare skin without any oils or creams. A little talcum powder can be used if the skin is sticky. MLD uses very light pressure to stimulate the lymph vessels that lie just beneath the skin. Since these vessels are small and thin, firm pressure can actually shut them down momentarily, so the gentleness of the pressure is essential. The skin is stretched and torqued in a slow rhythmical circular or pumping movement, based on physiological principles of angio-motorics of lymphatic system. The aim is to encourage the extra lymph fluid to move away from the swollen area so it can drain normally. First the areas of the body where lymph nodes are concentrated – neck, axilla, groin – are stimulated in order to prepare them to receive more fluid. Then the therapist begins, close to the nodes, moving fluid toward them. The massage continues with the therapist’s hands moving farther away from the cleared nodes by degrees, but always directing the fluid back toward them. The length, condition and location of surgical scars, the amount and position of any fibrotic, hardened areas, the condition of the skin, the number and location of lymph nodes that were removed, and the extent of cancer treatment each individual received is taken into account to determine the most efficient route for directing the lymph fluid. Occasionally, MLD that moves a lot of fluid can result in feelings of nausea or a deep aching. It is usually a passing effect and leaves no lasting problems.

When You first begin MLD, it may seem hard to believe that the kitten-petting gentle strokes of the massage can have any positive effect at all. In fact, it may seem like hocus-pocus and a waste of time. But most patients are pleasantly surprised at the quick response of their body to this external means of moving the fluid trapped inside.

When stagnant lymph fluid is successfully moved back into circulation, the result is that more fluid is available to be processed by kidneys, so after MLD you may experience an urgent need to urinate – thus be sure to use the bathroom before heading for home.

Duration: 1h / 1,5h
Price: 45 €/ 60 €

Indications
Manual Lymph Drainage is indicated for a variety of conditions as it both affects and acts upon the diverse physiological functions of the human body:

• dermatological conditions as acne and rosacea
• following tooth extraction and operations
• cosmetic surgery aftercare, scar therapy, wound healing and  reconnecting the interrupted drainage routes, hyperkeratotic scars itching & deep reddening of the scar area, acute burn injury
• swollen legs because of standing or sitting work position, pregnancy, overweight, immobility edemas
• lymph-edemas of the limbs, primary or secondary – after mastectomy combined with the removal of axillary lymph nodes, or after radiation injury of the axillary or inguinal lymph nodes, iliac or lumbar lymphatic pathways – combining MLD, compression bandaging and remedial exercises will optimize edema reduction
• traumatic injuries: hematomas, distortions, muscle fiber tears, dislocations of joints, complex regional pain syndrome, post-fracture complications, pre- and post-operatively at any surgical intervention, reflex sympathetic dystrophy
• edematous changes in post-thrombotic syndrome, ulcera cruris of various origins – venous, arterial, diabetic
• rheumatic disorders, all types of rheumatoid arthritis, soft-tissue rheumatic disorders such as tendinitis, tendoperiostitis, tendovaginitis, bursitis, periarthritis, periarthrosis, carpal tunnel syndrome
• subacute inflammatory conditions, chronic inflammations, chronic cold, chronic tonsillitis, chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis – the usual regime for treating chronic inflammation is to begin with short therapy sessions which are gradually extended
• conditions associated with local edema in the bulbus, spinal marrow or along peripheral nerves
• conditions associated with local edema in the brain region – stroke, craniocerebral trauma,  cerebral concussion, apoplexy, headache, migraine, Meniere’s syndrome – there are no lymphatic vessels within the skull, the lymphatic load produced there is drained via the Virchov-Robin spaces in the vessel walls and via the arachnoid sheaths along the olfactory and optic nerves to the lymphatic vessels of neck and face mastodynia, so-called „cellulite“, fibromyalgia, scleroderma
• postpartum milk-stasis – one or two treatment sessions suffice to induce lactogenesis.

MLD
absolute contraindications:

• thrombosis at risk of causing embolism
• edema caused by cardiac decompensation
• metastatic or systemic malignant condition
• acute inflammation caused by bacteria, viruses or foreign bodies

precautions are required:

• edema following carcinoma treatment
• thyroid dysfunction
• bronchial asthma
• hypotension
• diabetes