SERVICES
Patient Education - Functional training including self-massaging, bandaging and exercising; also, education of lymphatic anatomy, risk reduction practices, infection prevention, and skin protection.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage - a potent way to activate the lymphatic system, especially when the transport capacity of the lymph vessel is reduce due to prior surgery and/or radiation therapy or other trauma. MLD is used to redirect the lymphatic fluid from an affected area of the body into an unaffected area to collateralize lymph drainage. MLD treatment work to lessen chronic scarring and thickening of the skin while increasing immune defense in the edematous limb(s).
Pneumatic Compression Pump - Pneumatic compression pumps consist of pneumatic cuffs connected to a pump. These pumps use compressed air to apply pressure to the affected limb. The purpose is to force excess fluid out of the limb and central body compartment in which lymphatic drainage should be preserved.
Compression Bandages - How does lymphedema bandaging work; and why is it so effective? Lymphedema bandaging is a multilayered system of short stretch, non-elastic pure cotton bandages, which are applied over padding to create compression and comfort around the circumference of the involved area.
The therapeutic effects of bandaging in the treatment of lymphedema are:
---a reduction in the return of lymph to the involved area once mobilized by MLD
---A reduction in the production of new lymph via ultra-filtration by increasing tissue pressure.
---An increase in re-absorption of other lymphatic loads by increasing tissue pressure.
---An improvement in the efficiency of the muscle and joint pumps as a lymph propellant
---A mechanical manipulation and improvement in lymphostatic fibrosis as movement is performed.
Lymphedema Remedial Exercises: lymphedema remedial exercises involve active, repetitive, non-resistive motion of the involved body part. Exercise in phase I and phase II complete decongestive therapy (CDT) is performed the compression as an essential part of the total (complete) reductive phase of lymphedema therapy. Lymphedema exercises, used with compression, help the body’s natural muscle pump to increase venous and lymphatic fluid return to the circulatory system and out of the swollen areas. Developing good exercises habits during the intensive phase can help a patient progress to a supervised community-based exercises program as part of their discharge plan.
