Therapeutic Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Therapeutic Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a type of manual manipulation of the skin, based on the hypothesis that it will encourage the natural drainage of the lymph, which carries waste products away from the tissues back toward the heart. The lymph system depends on intrinsic contractions of the smooth muscle cells in the walls of lymph vessels (peristalsis) and the movement of skeletal muscles to propel lymph through the vessels to lymph nodes and then to the lymph ducts, which return lymph to the cardiovascular system. Manual lymph drainage uses a specific amount of pressure (less than 9 oz per square inch or about 4 kPa), and rhythmic circular movements to stimulate lymph flow.

How Does it Work

Normally, the lymphatic system collects lymph fluid and returns it to your heart through the lymph vessels and nodes. But when there’s a disruption to your lymphatic system’s process, such as the removal of lymph nodes during surgery, the fluid can collect in your arms and legs, which leads to swelling. The medical term for swelling is edema, so the condition is called lymphedema.

Therapists commonly use Therapeutic MLD to relieve swelling by coaxing lymph fluid from your tissues to your functioning lymph nodes. Therapeutic Lymphatic Drainage follows a specific sequence, starting with the main drains in the body, including the lymph nodes in the neck, groin and armpits. The idea is that by massaging an area where there is no swelling, the congested lymph fluid will have somewhere to go because you’ve created space for it.

Benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Therapeutic Lymphatic drainage massages are often used to relieve lymphedema following surgery. Other conditions that benefit from lymphatic drainage massages are:

Rheumatoid arthritis: This is ongoing arthritis in your joints causing joint pain, swelling and stiffness.
Fibromyalgia: This condition causes chronic muscle and joint pain.
Chronic venous insufficiency: This happens when your leg veins aren't working effectively, making it hard for your blood to return to your heart from your legs.
Lipedema: This happens when excess fat accumulates in your lower body, blocking your lymphatic pathway and causing lymphedema.