Lymphatic drainage for lighter arms and legs

Painful edemas are a burden on the everyday lives of millions of Germans - luckily there is lymphatic drainage. In this article we will discuss this form of therapy, show when it can be used and what to look out for afterwards.

What is lymphatic drainage?

Lymphatic drainage is a medical form of massage used to treat lymphedema. Lymphedema occurs when lymph drainage is disrupted as a result of an interstitium disease. Fluid builds up in the tissue and clearly visible swelling occurs in the limbs and face.

Four basic procedures are used to treat lymphedema:

  • Compression therapy using bandages
  • Decongestant exercise
  • Skin care
  • Manual lymph drainage

Lymphatic drainage works in four ways:

  • it decongests
  • it relieves the pain
  • it relaxes the muscles
  • it strengthens the immune system

When is lymphatic drainage advisable?

Lymphedema is either congenital or the result of another disease. The therapy is particularly frequently used for the following diseases:

  1. chronic lymphedema
  2. chronic venous insufficiency
  3. postoperative swelling
  4. CRPS
  5. Swelling after hemiplegia due to stroke
  6. chronic polyarthritis
  7. Headache

Pregnancy can also lead to lymphedema; cellulite is also treated with the various techniques.

However, lymphatic drainage is not advisable in certain medical conditions. These include:

  1. malignant tumors
  2. acute inflammation
  3. Cardiac arrhythmias
  4. Hyperthyroidism

If you would like to learn more about preventive lymphatic drainage, we recommend the appropriate instructional video from WellnessInPerfektion. This will make it easy for you to learn how to move tissue fluids and relieve edema.

What should be considered after lymphatic drainage?

After treatment, there are a few things you should keep in mind to support the positive effects.

  1. Tight, constricting clothing and accessories are a no-go as they further complicate lymph flow.
  2. Care for your skin with a pH-neutral cream, as lymphedema increases the risk of infection. You should be particularly careful when caring for your nails, as even small injuries can allow pathogens to pass through. For the same reason, you should wear gloves when doing housework and gardening.
  3. Elevate your legs regularly for better lymph drainage.
  4. Limit your sporting activities to light exercise such as walking, Nordic walking, swimming, etc. Sunbathing, saunas and solariums are not recommended. However, you should definitely not avoid exercise altogether.

By the way:

We advise against taking diuretic tablets as they lead to an increased protein concentration in the tissue.

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