Your lymphatic system helps eliminate your body’s waste. A healthy, active lymphatic system uses the natural movements of smooth muscle tissue to do this.
The Most Effective Self Lymph Drainage Massage For Sinus Congestion Last updated on May 8, 2018 By Astrid 4 Comments This is a fantastic lymphatic drainage massage especially if you are suffering from. This is light massage, but can make powerful changes throughout the body. There are important contraindications to lymphatic drainage massage: As with all lymphatic drainage massage, there are contraindications. While it is a light form of massage, it is very powerful and can have a broad effect on the body. Did you know that you can give yourself a quick, do it yourself lymphatic massage that will help your body eliminate toxins and also supports good hormone function? I learned this self lymphatic massage technique while attending a holistic healing workshop a few months ago, based on the work of Donna Eden and Dr. David Feinstein. Lymphatic massage, also called lymphatic drainage or manual lymph drainage, is a technique developed in Germany for treatment of lymphedema, an accumulation of fluid that can occur after lymph nodes are removed during surgery, most often a mastectomy for breast cancer. Lymphedema can also be present.
However, surgery, medical conditions, or other damage can cause fluids to build up in your lymph system and your lymph nodes, a condition known as lymphedema.
If you’ve ever had a surgery on or involving your lymph nodes, your doctor may have suggested lymphatic drainage massage performed by a certified massage or physical therapist. However,
- Steps For Lymphatic Drainage Self-Massage Step 1: Lie down in a comfortable position on your back and take some deep, slow breaths, feeling the rise and fall of your abdomen. Continue this type of breathing for the remainder of the massage.
- Steps For Lymphatic Drainage Self-Massage Step 1: Lie down in a comfortable position on your back and take some deep, slow breaths, feeling the rise and fall of your abdomen. Continue this type of breathing for the remainder of the massage.
lymphatic massage is not recommended for people with the following conditions:
- congestive heart failure
- history of blood clots or stroke
- current infection
- liver problems
- kidney problems
Procedures that affect or remove your lymph nodes can cause lymphedema as a side effect.
Lymphedema will only occur in the area near a surgical site.
For example, if you have lymph nodes removed as a part of cancer surgery to your left breast, only your left arm, not your right, might be affected with lymphedema.
Lymphedema can also occur as a result of an injury or medical conditions such as congestive heart failure (CHF) or blood clots in the body.
To move waste fluids away from the damaged area, lymphatic massage, which uses a gentle pressure, can help. It’s one technique used to reduce lymphedema.
Raakhee Patel, PT, DPT, CLT, is a physical therapist and certified lymphedema specialist who trains people to perform their own lymphatic massage after surgery.
“We don’t talk enough about lymphedema,” says Patel. Fluid build-up is uncomfortable and causes pain and heaviness in the affected area. And, according to Patel, “Stage 3 lymphedema can be devastating,” causing significant depression and lack of mobility that could complicate healing.
When performing a lymphatic massage, it’s important that the massage include more than just the affected area. The entire lymphatic system of the body, except the head, right side of the chest, and right arm, drains near the left shoulder. So, a massage should include all areas to drain properly.
Patel teaches two stages of lymphatic massage: clearing and reabsorption. The purpose of clearing is to create a vacuum with gentle pressure so that the area is prepared to bring in more fluid, creating a flushing effect.
Clearing involves:
- supraclavicular lymph area: located directly under the collarbone
- axillary lymph area: located under the arms
- inside of the elbows
Clearing motions can be repeated as many as 10 times a day. Patel advises, “Always massage both sides of your body, not just the side with the lymphedema.”
A guide to clearing
There are three stages to clearing. Be sure to clear the supraclavicular area, axillary area, and inner-elbow area, in that order.
To clear the supraclavicular area:
- Begin by lying on a comfortable, flat surface.
- Cross your arms on your chest, with your hands resting just below the collarbones.
- Then lift your elbows slowly. The muscle action is as much pressure required to prepare the area to flush lymphatic fluid.
Next, clear the axillary area:
- Lay one hand above your head.
- Use your other hand to gently scoop the underarm area from top to bottom. The only pressure required is gentle enough to move the surface of the skin.
Finally, clear the area inside the elbows:
- Lay your arm straight at your side.
- Use the fingers of your opposite hand to gently pull the skin inside the elbow an inch at a time.
Only very gentle pressure is required. “In lymphatic massage, you’re only working the superficial skin structure,” says Patel. That’s where the fluid is trapped.
How to perform lymphatic massage on the legs
The goal of lymphatic massage on the legs is to open the lymphatic vessels to let excess fluid drain back up into the lymph nodes located in the groin.
There are different techniques used to perform lymphatic massage on the legs, but all have the same end goal: to release the fluid to go back up through the lymph nodes. Motioninjoy gamepad tool latest version.
To perform a lymphatic massage on the legs, you can follow these steps:
![Self manual lymphatic drainage massage near me Self manual lymphatic drainage massage near me](/uploads/1/2/4/8/124868820/753939624.png)
- Perform lymphatic massage of the upper body before beginning with the legs. Follow the three stages of clearing in the supraclavicular area, the axillary area, and the inner-elbow area, in that order. This ensures that the system is clear to allow fluid to drain up.
- Use light pressure. If you can feel the muscles underneath your skin, you are pressing too hard.
- Begin the leg massage at the furthest point away from the injury or affected area and work your way down. For example, if your ankle has swelling, start the massage on the upper part of the leg.
- Starting at the top of the leg, put one hand on the inside of the leg and the other on the back of your leg.
- With gentle pressure, stretch the skin from the inside of your leg up and out, toward your hip.
- Continue this motion down the leg until you reach the knee.
- When you reach the knee, stretch the skin up, with alternating hands, toward your armpit.
- Repeat 10 to 15 times.
You have now completed the clearing step of the lymphatic massage.
Lower Extremity Lymphatic Drainage Massa…
A guide to reabsorption
The second part of lymphatic massage is reabsorption. To perform this stage of massage:
- Begin at the affected part of the body farthest from the core of the body. For example, begin at the tips of the fingers if you have lymphedema in your hand, arm, and shoulder.
- Using a gentle, sweeping motion with just enough pressure to shift the surface of the skin, massage from fingertip to hand, from hand to elbow, and from elbow to shoulder.
“Patient compliance is the hardest part of self-care, especially for women, who are so used to taking care of others,” says Patel.
She advises people to set aside at least 20 minutes a day for lymphatic drainage massage. “If you only have a brief amount of time, perform the clearing stage of massage.”
To begin reabsorption on the legs, you will use a pumping motion behind the knee:
- Place both hands behind your knees.
- Pump the back of the knee with a rolling, upward motion 10 to 15 times.
Your knee is now ready to take in fluid from the lower leg, so you can proceed to massaging the lower legs:
- Put one hand on the top of the shin and the other behind the leg.
- Stretch the skin in an upward motion, then release it.
- Continue down toward the ankle area.
- Repeat down through the ankle and feet, always stroking upward.
- End the massage by gently pushing fluid in the toes upward with your fingers.
How do you know if lymphatic drainage massage is effective? “This is a maintenance technique,” says Patel. “Your lymphedema should not get worse if you regularly practice lymphatic massage.”
Also, drink water. Well-hydrated tissue helps moves out waste materials.
Managing your lymphedema can also include:
- using a compression sleeve to prevent fluid buildup
- seeing a qualified therapist for in-office drainage massage
When choosing a therapist, learn as much about their education as possible. “Massage is very good for you, but deep tissue massage can be too heavy for someone with lymphedema, so don’t assume you can just go to a massage therapist.”
Look for someone who is a certified lymphedema therapist (CLT) and preferably a physical or massage therapist with oncology and pathology training.
Massage therapists versed in lymph drainage massage are in a position to assist the growing population of women who have received breast cancer treatment.
The American Cancer Society estimates there will be over 252,000 new cases of breast cancer in 2017, the most common type of cancer in the U.S., accounting for almost 155 of all new cancers.
It’s the most prevalent type of cancer, and the risk of developing it increases with age.
Incidence of Breast Cancer
The National Cancer Institute statistics review states that fewer than five percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. are younger than 40. Rates begin to increase after age 40 and are highest in women over age 70.
Further, the median age of diagnosis of breast cancer for women in the U.S. is 61 years of age, according to the American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Facts & Figures.
Self Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage Benefits
Caucasian women have a higher incident rates of breast cancer compared to African-American women, specifically between the age of 60 and 84; however, African-American women have a higher incidence rate before age 45 and are more likely to die from breast cancer at every age.
There are several ways breast cancer is treated, depending on the type and stage of the disease These include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy.
Side effects of these treatments include fatigue, headache, depression, anxiety, pain and numbness, lymphedema (chronic swelling of an arm cause by removing lymph nodes), axillary web syndrome, bone loss and osteoporosis, heart problems and more, according to the American Cancer Society.
Problems After Cancer Treatment
With so many women undergoing a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, massage therapists are well advised to learn about the hands-on care that can help this potential clientele, especially related to specific conditions they may present with.
Breast cancer patients often suffer late and long-term after-effects of treatments; in fact, according to the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Statistics Review 1975–2014, close to 90 percent of breast cancer survivors report physical problems that can reduce functional ability, produce or exacerbate emotional problems, negatively affect body image, and diminish quality of life.
Based on my experience working with breast cancer survivors, pain and lymphedema are the most dreaded of the late side effects related to breast cancer treatment.
The Role of Lymph Drainage
A gentle, noninvasive therapy such as lymph drainage massage is an appropriate fit for the typical profile of a breast cancer patient and their unique long-term symptoms.
Lymphatic drainage is designed to deal with swelling and helps to reduce pain. (Having osteoporosis, either from cancer treatment or before the incidence of cancer, precludes deep pressure types of massage.)
Lymphedema is often the most dreaded complication of breast cancer treatment, along with pain and loss of range of motion. In addition, physical therapists and nurses are not trained in lymphatic drainage.
A massage therapist trained in lymphatic drainage is a valuable part of a cancer patient’s health care team. (I will note, however, that a more advanced credential is that held by therapists trained in Complete Decongestive Therapy, which includes use of compression garments, bandages, exercise, self-care and manual lymphatic drainage.)
The light, supportive touch of a lymphatic drainage massage therapist will help breast cancer survivors deal with anxiety, pain and difficulty of adjusting to life after treatment.
Lymphatic Massage Treatment
Lymphatic drainage for breast cancer patients focuses on reducing lymphatic congestion by increasing the rate of lymphatic flow. Techniques are applied to the upper body.
Light, gentle skin stretching strokes are used to stimulate the lymph nodes under the clavicle and contra-lateral side (non-swollen arm) of lymphedema occurrence. Some modalities, such as Bruno Chikly’s Lymph Drainage Therapy involve Lymphatic Mapping, redirecting the swelling in a limb to other nodes in the body that could absorb the extra fluid.
There are many schools of lymph drainage therapy, including the Dr. Vodder School International, the Chikly Health Institute and the Academy of Lymphatic Studies.
Emil Vodder, Ph.D. (1896–1986), and his wife, naturopath and massage therapist Estrid Vodder (1897–1996), developed the original method of manual lymphatic drainage. The original Vodder Institute was founded in France and now offers seminars around the world.
Bruno Chikly, M.D., D.O., L.M.T., a French osteopath, founded the Chikly institute in Florida to teach his method of lymph drainage therapy, and also offers classes internationally.
Joachim Zuther, MLD/CDT Certified Instructor, was trained in manual lymph therapy in Germany, and founded the Academy Lymphatic Studies in 1994, in Florida.
Additionally, many massage schools and continuing education providers offer training in lymphatic drainage massage.
When to Perform Lymphatic Drainage
You should only perform lymphatic drainage massage on breast cancer patients and survivors after a physician has cleared her for therapy,
Unfortunately, the complications of breast cancer treatments are ongoing and require supportive care to manage the conditions that appear. Like most forms of bodywork, the best results of lymph drainage massage are seen from multiple sessions on an ongoing basis.
For more information, read “An Overview of Manual Lymphatic Drainage for Lymphodema” and “6 Essential Oils for Lymphatic Drainage Massage.”
About the Author
Ivan Garay, L.M.T., is New Jersey certified massage therapist, New York State licensed massage therapist, and adjunct faculty at the New York College of Health Professions. He is trained in Myoskeletal Alignment, lymphatic drainage therapy, craniosacral therapy, trigger point therapy, Rock Tape and sports massage. He has more than 16 years’ experience in the massage field, and attended the Upledger Institute and learned the Bruno Chikly technique of lymphatic therapy. He developed the course, Lymphatic Drainage for Breast Cancer Survivors, for massage therapists.
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