The combination of muscle contraction and bandaging pumps the fluid out of your arm. Once the swelling has stabilized, you may be fitted with a custom garment or sleeve, depending on your particular needs for work and daily activities. Manual lymph therapy is a light, circular massage starting at the neck and working down the affected area. It uses alternating pressures to improve absorption of lymph fluid. The fluid-filled tissue is softened through changes in tissue pressure.
Excess protein is moved out of the limb, and fluid follows the protein molecules.
With manual lymph therapy, we push lymph fluid away from damaged or blocked lymph nodes to healthy pathways. Again, these may vary from patient to patient. With treatment, the body may even develop additional lymph pathways to handle the increased volume of lymph fluid in a particular area. Compression pumps Pumps are sometimes used in treatment of lymphedema. Once you have learned how to use the pump, you may be given a home unit.