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Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a gentle, relaxing form of therapy that helps stimulate the lymph fluid movement through your body.

Some of the benefits include:

• Boosts the immune system
• Reduces post-operative swelling
• Decongesting sinuses
• Reduction of excessive water (edema)
• Decreases pain throughout the body

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), sometimes called manual lymphatic therapy, uses light touch to move excess lymph and fluid out of the tissues and back into the lymphatic vessels. Although often referred to as a type of massage, MLD is very different from traditional forms of massage.  It requires specialized training with a thorough understand of how the lymphatic system works as well as contraindications to the therapy.  

 Lymphedema is an unhealthy accumulation of lymph fluid in the body (most commonly in an arm or leg) and can result from injury, surgery, cancer treatment or is sometimes a hereditary disorder. Left untreated It can lead to excessive swelling of the area, infection and pain.  Once you have lymphedema, it can be managed, but not cured.  Therefore, it is important to prevent it from occurring. 

Treatment consists of:

• Manual Lymphatic Drainage
• Compression bandaging
• Therapeutic exercises
• Skin care
• Patient education
• Compression garments

Shea Shulman is a Certified Lymphedema therapist with 130 hours of training in this area.  Shea will create a plan of care for your condition that includes in-office therapy to reduce the swelling, ordering of compression garments required to keep the swelling from returning, and at-home exercises.