Manual Lymphatic Drainage

You don’t need to be post op to get MLD. We get this question a lot. :)

POST OP~

If you've had recent plastic surgery such as BBL, mommy makeover, face-lift, liposuction 360, or breast augmentation/reconstruction, this technique is ideal for rapid recovery and to avoid a common secondary effect of surgery, fibrosis- thickening and hardening of the scar site. Recomended by most surgeons.

LONG HAUL COVID~ MLD Is very helpful with moving the lymphatic system (your immune system)

SINUS ISSUES~ MLD helps with those nasty clogged sinus’ or just sinus issues in general.

LYMPHEDEMA~

When a person is diagnosed with lymphedema, it is important for them to see all of their options. Manual Lymphatic Drainage can be a vital part in their treatment.

The lymphatic system is a part of our circulatory system. Some of its functions include: collecting and transporting tissue fluids from all the tissues of the body back to the venous system, absorbing and transporting fatty acids from the digestive system, and it plays a role in our immune system by filtering the lymph to remove microorganisms and other foreign particles. White blood cells are built and stored in lymphatic tissues. There are lymphatic vessels that run all over our body. They are similar to our veins and arteries, but these lymph vessels all drain to collections of lymph nodes that are present in multiple areas of the body such as the groin, underarms, and the neck.

When a person is diagnosed with lymphedema, there has been actual damage to this lymphatic system. Damage to the lymphatic system is most often caused by surgery and/or radiation for various types of cancers. Commonly, lymph nodes are removed when surgery for cancer is performed so that they are able to assess the aggressiveness of the cancer, and also whether or not it has started spreading to other areas of the body. When lymph nodes are removed, there is an upset in this system and swelling can occur. Lymphedema can also be hereditary/congenital or developing without an apparent cause at different stages in life.

This swelling from lymphedema can occur in the upper and lower extremities, trunk, abdomen, head and neck, external genitalia, and internal organs. The onset can be very sudden, evident immediately after surgery or trauma, or it can occur many years later. It is a very common and serious condition that requires lifelong medical management. If left untreated, it will continue to progress and can lead to fibrotic tissues, infections such as cellulitis can occur, and the limb will continue to grow in size making movement very difficult and sometimes, nearly impossible.

Certified lymphedema therapists (CLT) play a vital role in the management of lymphedema. CLT’s use the gold standard to treat the swelling, which includes manual lymphatic drainage, compression therapy with short stretch bandages and/or compression garments, gentle exercise, and patient/family education. Manual lymphatic drainage is a manual technique that serves to move lymph fluid in the appropriate direction to optimize reabsorption by the lymph nodes to reduce swelling in the limb. With the compression therapy, it is very dependent upon the severity of the swelling. As mentioned before, short stretch bandages could be used on a daily basis which requires the patient to see the CLT 3-5 days per week for wrapping, or compression therapy can be as simple as wearing a compression garment that has been sized and ordered for that particular person.

MLD is a specific technique with gentle, skin-stretching movements. These movements transport the lymphatic fluid from your swollen areas in the direction of the lymph flow and in areas that are draining well. This is called ‘decongesting.’

MLD starts in the areas of the non-swollen parts of your body to open the well-working lymph collectors, make the lymph flow faster, and induce a suction effect. Your therapist will continue with MLD in your swollen body parts to direct the fluid to the open lymph collectors. The gentle, rhythmic motions on your skin can also help to soften any hardened (fibrotic) tissue.

Athletic & Sport Massage

Sports massage therapy is geared toward athletes of every kind, from world-class professionals to weekend joggers. The particulars of the sports massage technique are specific to the athlete’s sport of choice. Focusing on areas of the body that are overused and stressed from repetitive and often aggressive movements.

One of the key benefits of Sports massage therapy compared to other modalities is its ability to target muscle-tendon junctions.

PAIN RELIEF & PAIN MANAGMENT!!!

Massage used to be considered an indulgence, but it’s now recognized as a legitimate therapy for some painful conditions.

Therapeutic massage may relieve pain by way of several mechanisms, including relaxing painful muscles, tendons, and joints; relieving stress and anxiety; and possibly helping to “close the pain gate” by stimulating competing nerve fibers and impeding pain messages to and from the brain.

Medical massage is an active area of research. In particular, it has been studied for its effect on pain in the back, hands, neck, and knees, among other areas. A study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice showed a reduction in hand pain and an improvement in grip strength among people who had four weekly hand massage sessions and did self-massage at home. They also slept better and had less anxiety and depression than people in the control group who didn’t receive hand massage.

A study published in Annals of Family Medicine in 2014 found that 60-minute therapeutic massage sessions two or three times a week for four weeks relieved chronic neck pain better than no massage or fewer or shorter massage sessions.

Massage therapy can involve varying degrees of pressure. Some people find certain forms of massage, such as deep tissue massage, to be painful. Massage doesn’t have to be painful to be therapeutic, so be sure to tell your therapist the type of touch you prefer (light touch, firm pressure, hard pressure). Lighter may be more relaxing and therefore more beneficial, depending on your situation. People with certain pain conditions such as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome may only be able to tolerate light pressure.

Restorative & Relaxation Massage

This massage treatment is a blend of relaxation massage, modified deep tissue massage and movement.The focus is on restoring balance to the whole person. Whether you are stressed, or suffering from an acute or chronic injury you will benefit from this massage.

Pressure of strokes depends on the individual client ranging from light to deep. Gentle movement is also used at times to help free up tight and restricted muscle tissue. The goal is to reduce pain, quiet the mind and leave the client feeling refreshed and at ease.

Intra-Oral TMJ

Intra-Oral Massage is manual technique that works on muscles inside the mouth. This technique can be intense, but it is not necessarily painful. Since it deals with muscles that are rarely touched, they respond to slow, methodic and gentle pressure.

During Treatment, gloves are worn while working inside the mouth to release the muscles and fascia involved with chewing and jaw clenching. Other areas that are often worked during this type of treatment may include; muscles in the back and front of the neck, muscles on the outside of the mouth, scalp and muscles at the base of the skull. The results can be life-changing for those with chronic pain.

Oncology Massage

This type of massage is applied with a light touch; Massage can decrease stress, anxiety, depression, pain, and fatigue. Many health care professionals recognize massage as a useful, noninvasive addition to standard medical treatment. Manual Lymphatic Drainage can be used as well if client has developed Lymphedema.