Manual lymphatic drainage
Medical procedure
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Related on Lably
Through Lymph, Lymphatic system and Lymphatic vessel
Medical use
Studies show mixed results regarding the efficacy of the method in treating lymphedema, and further studies are needed. A 2013 systematic review of manual lymphatic drainage with regard to breast cancer–related lymphedema found no clear support for the effectiveness of the intervention in either preventing limb edema in at-risk women or treating women for the condition. A more recent study (2022) found that manual lymphatic drainage improved lymphedema by stimulating the formation of new collateral pathways, enhancing the overall flow and drainage of fluid out of congested areas.
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History
Manual lymphatic drainage was pioneered by the Danish doctors Emil Vodder and Estrid Vodder in the 1930s for the treatment of chronic sinusitis and other immune disorders. While working on the French Riviera treating patients with chronic colds, the Vodders noticed these patients had swollen lymph nodes. In 1932, at a time when the lymphatic system was poorly understood, they began to develop light rhythmic hand movements hoping to promote lymph movement. In 1936, they introduced this technique in Paris; following World War II, they returned to Copenhagen to teach other practitioners to use this therapy.