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A WORD FROM OUR MYOTHERAPIST….

By: Living Chiropractic On: November 30, 2016 Comments Disabled

MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE

manual-lymph-drainage-massage

 

Have you recently undergone surgery? Do you suffer from sinus issues? Do you have oedema or swelling in any parts of your body? Manual Lymphatic Drainage may be the treatment for you!

In order to understand how MLD works, you need to have a general understanding of how the immune system functions.

The body contains around 10 litres of lymph fluid which is made up of water, protein, viruses, bacteria and other pollutants which has been excreted from the body’s cells. This fluid works to rid the body of viruses and infection; essentially the body’s filtration system. This fluid is filtered by lymph nodes which purify this fluid which is transported through lymph vessels. So when the immune system is compromised, the body’s ability to deal with toxins is altered. This can possibly lead to the following conditions:

  • Oedema/Swelling
  • Sinus issues
  • Post-surgery recovery
  • Cancer treatment (with clearance)
  • Depression/Anxiety

The lymph vessels are very easily compressed, taking around 5-10 minutes for them to regain flow, therefore the treatment must be very light in order for it to be effective. When you undergo surgery, the lymph vessels are often damaged causing excess lymph build up in tissues (oedema), therefore, post-surgery MLD can help to fasten the healing process twice as fast as average recovery. So now you have a general knowledge of how the immune system functions, the theory behind MLD will be much easier to understand.

MLD is a series of light sequences that promotes lymph flow throughout the body. As therapists, we can act as an aid to the system by activating the lymph nodes, redirecting lymph fluid and promoting blood flow to aid in the reduction of toxins.

Inactivity can also lead to oedema due to lack of blood flow. That’s why sometimes when people fly on aeroplanes, their ankles swell.

If you are interested in MLD, you will be required to book a 1-hour Lymphatic Drainage session. As mentioned previously, some conditions may require a physician’s clearance in order to proceed with treatment.

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