Manual Lymphatic Drainage

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Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is the traditional method of moving lymph in order to drain swollen areas of the body and return the excess fluid to the circulatory system so it may be excreted from the body.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is the “gold standard” in lymphatic drainage for Post-Operative Recovery, Lymphedema, and Lipedema, and is available for anyone unable to use Electro-Lymphatic Therapy (ELT) due to wounds, pacemakers, or other conditions.

MLD is one of several steps that make up Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT), a type of therapy used to treat people with severe, chronic swelling.

manual lymphatic drainage albuquerque lymphatic massage lymph massage

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is the traditional method of moving lymph in order to drain swollen areas of the body and return the excess fluid to the circulatory system so it may be excreted from the body.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is the “gold standard” in lymphatic drainage for Post-Operative Recovery, Lymphedema, and Lipedema, and is available for anyone unable to use Electro-Lymphatic Therapy (ELT) due to wounds, pacemakers, or other conditions.

MLD is one of several steps that make up Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT), a type of therapy used to treat people with severe, chronic swelling.

Video of Manual Lymphatic Drainage

The video above gives a brief demonstration of Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) for the upper body.

Recover Faster.  Feel Better Today.

Book Your Appointment Now Online

505-554-5185

Question? Send an email.

Is MLD the Same as “Lymphatic Massage”?

Is manual lymphatic drainage the same as lymphatic massage?
Is manual lymphatic drainage the same as lymphatic massage

Many therapists, and especially large chain massage places, advertise “Lymphatic Massage.”  

It is even used to some degree in marketing for Pain & Swelling Solutions because more people search for the term “Lymphatic Massage” better than they do “Manual Lymphatic Drainage.”  It simply markets better – more people find it on google.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is often referred to as “Lymphatic Massage” or “Lymph Massage” in everyday language.  On the whole there is little harm in using this terminology to refer to MLD when explaining to a friend what you are having done.

However, there is a very big difference when you go to choose a practitioner.  The training someone has who is offering “Lymphatic Massage” can vary wildly.

Many therapists, and especially large chain massage places, advertise “Lymphatic Massage.”  

It is even used to some degree in marketing for Pain & Swelling Solutions because more people tend to search for the term “Lymphatic Massage” better than they do “Manual Lymphatic Drainage.”  It simply markets better – more people find it on google.

Is manual lymphatic drainage the same as lymphatic massage?

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is often referred to as “Lymphatic Massage” or “Lymph Massage” in everyday language.  On the whole there is little harm in using this terminology to refer to MLD when explaining to a friend what you are having done.

However, there is a very big difference when you go to choose a practitioner.  The training someone has who is offering “Lymphatic Massage” can vary wildly.

So How Do You Know
If You are Getting
Real Lymphatic Drainage?

In short, you need to know the qualifications of your practitioner.

A massage therapist who took the basic required classes to become a massage therapist may have read a paragraph in a book that vaguely explained the notion of lymphatic work.  

They may have even had a short demo by an instructor of how to do a lighter version of Swedish massage and they may have been told that was “lymphatic massage.”  (It’s not.  See “What Technically is the Difference Between Manual Lymph Drainage and Lymphatic Massage?” below.)

A Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT), on the other hand, has been through a minimum of 135 hours of training on Manual Lymphatic Drainage, the anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system, medical complications and adaptations regarding lymphatic drainage,  compression bandaging techniques, and compression garments.

what is the difference between lymphatic massage and manual lymphatic drainage (MLD)

In short, you need to know the qualifications of your practitioner.

A massage therapist who took the basic required classes to become a massage therapist may have read a paragraph in a book that vaguely explained the notion of lymphatic work.  

Is manual lymphatic drainage the same as lymphatic massage

They may have even had a short demo by an instructor of how to do a lighter version of Swedish massage and they may have been told that was “lymphatic massage.”  (It’s not.  See “What Technically is the Difference Between Manual Lymph Drainage and Lymphatic Massage?” below.)

A Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT), on the other hand, has been through a minimum of 135 hours of training on Manual Lymphatic Drainage, the anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system, medical complications and adaptations regarding lymphatic drainage,  compression bandaging techniques, and compression garments.

what is the difference between lymphatic massage and manual lymphatic drainage (MLD)

Most Certified Lymphedema Therapists (CLT’s) are Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, or physicians.  There are only a handful of massage therapists who hold this credential, but they have had the same training and have passed the same rigorous exam.

So, as you are looking around to see where you can get a “lymphatic massage”/Manual Lymphatic Drainage, don’t just look at the advertising.  Look at the person’s credentials.  You may view my credentials here.

This is especially important for people who are getting therapy for post-surgical swelling, Lymphedema, Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), Lipedema, are recovering from breast cancer surgery, or other medical condition.

Recover Faster.  Feel Better Today.

Book Your Appointment Now Online

505-554-5185

Question? Send me an email.

Shannon Goins Certified Lymphedema Therapist Albuquerque

What Technically is the Difference Between Manual Lymph Drainage and
Lymphatic Massage?

manual lymphatic drainage albuquerque lymphatic massage lymph massage

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a technique that is very specific in direction, stroke, and pressure in order to effectively move fluid out of a swollen area.

Lymphatic Massage implies that the therapist glides over the skin with oil. True Manual Lymphatic Drainage actually stretches skin gently and does not use any type of lubricant.

A “light massage” is NOT the same as Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD).

How Does MLD Work?

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a very specific manual technique that is used to open lymphatic vessels in swollen tissues. Fluid then flows into the vessels and is routed along very specific pathways to return lymph to the circulatory system.

The process works by first opening the ducts where lymph empties into the circulatory system at the superior vena cava next to the heart.  This is the equivalent of unclogging a pipe where the water backed up in the sink is then sucked down the drain.

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The lymphatic vessels (in green) are the return highways that provide transport for intracellular fluid that has exited the arterial system (red) at the capillaries (purple).
happy mature couple - woman happy after having received Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) - manual lymphatic drainage albuquerque lymphatic massage lymph massage
 
Getting your lymph moving again can help
you recover from surgery quicker, detox, 
 and improve your immune function.

Make an appointment with
Pain & Swelling Solutions
and feel better today!

505-554-5185