Manual lymph drainage is a technique first developed by Dr. Emil Vodder and his wife Estrid in 1936 to treat swollen lymph nodes. This technique is a light, skin-stretching massage that promotes the movement of lymphatic fluid out of swollen areas and is unrelated to a traditional massage, which focuses more on muscles and other soft-tissues. Manual lymph drainage is focused only on helping the flow of lymphatic fluid via lymph vessels. The unaffected areas are worked on first, to make it possible for the remaining fluid to move out of the swollen area.
Manual lymph drainage technique is specifically intended to stimulate lymph nodes and the rhythmic contractions of the lymphatic vessels to enhance their activity and “decongest” the area. It can be used both as a preventative treatment as well as a postoperative treatment. This technique will also increase blood flow in the deep and superficial veins, bringing increased blood flow back to the heart, and can also be used in other conditions such as post-surgical edema and palliative care.
Treatment in the physical therapy clinic will not only include manual lymph drainage through a light lymph massage done in a specific direction and intensities, but also specific therapeutic exercises, use of sports taping to promote lymph drainage, and compression therapy.