Massage actually means to knead and is commonly used to refer to "classical" or "Swedish" massages.
The term is also used to describe manual lymph drainage. This is a misuse of the term and not correct. Manual lymph drainage is a gentle treatment and technique that is used in combination with compression therapy, skin care and decongestive exercises to treat lymphedema.
This technique is used to treat both primary and secondary lymphedema and also at times post-surgical and post-traumatic swelling.
Techniques of Manual lymph drainage also have a detoxifying effect on the person.
On correct application Manual lymph drainage helps increase the activity of lymph vessels and moves interstitial fluid; the procedure exerts some pressure on the skin. However, it does not increase local arterial blood flow.
- If a person has lymphedema, massage therapy is contraindicated in the affected extremity including the trunkal area that borders the extremity.
- Implementation of massage therapy helps increase the lymphatic load of water and more often than not cells too. This can also decrease the transport capacity of the lymphatic system as it could cause additional damage to lymphatics that are still intact after the surgical procedures.
- Massage therapy is not advised to people who have primary lymphedema that has affected one leg. In addition to this massage therapy should also not be used on the contralateral extremity as malformation of the lymphatic system could be present in the leg.
- The use of massage therapy techniques or any therapy or technique that could cause an increase in arterial blood flow for lymphedemateous limbs and the trunkal area bordering the limb could initiate the onset of lymphedema or the existing lymphedema becoming worse.
- In the case where lymphedema is of the upper extremity, massage therapy can be used safely when carried out on the lumbar/gluteal area and also on the lower extremities.
Hoever, one has to be very careful as negative side effects may be observed on the lymphedema the strokes of the massage are applied to the neck/upper trapezius area.
In a similar situation the neck, thorax and upper extremities could have massage therapy applied to them when only lower extremity lymphedema is present. However, the lumbar and gluteal areas that are on opposite sides and the lower extremity that is unaffected are areas that are considered to be at risk and so these areas should be treated with caution.
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