Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a gentle massage technique that helps move lymph fluid to areas where lymph vessels are functioning properly.
Lymph fluid is a watery fluid that flows through the lymphatic system. This system is responsible for providing nutrients to cells and tissues as well as protecting the body from like viruses, bacteria, and cancerous cells.
There are lymphatic capillaries in the tissues of nearly every organ in your body. The liver and digestive system are responsible for producing 80% of the lymph fluid in the body. The lymphatic system is supposed to collect the lymph fluid and return it to the heart through vessels and nodes. Sometimes when this process is disrupted, the lymph fluid collects in parts of the body like the legs, arms, or ankles thus causing them to swell.
A massage therapist will move this built-up fluid from the tissues to the lymph nodes to ease swelling.
Origin
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a technique that was introduced by Taylor Stills in the 1800s but was not clinically developed until 1936 by Dr. Emil Vodder and his wife in Paris to treat swollen lymph nodes. This publication recommended hand movements in semi circles; this went on to become the common treatment of lymphedema over the years. It was not until the 50s that European countries began to reach out to Dr. Vodder to teach his technique.
Dr. Vodder’s MLD method was brought to North America by Hildegard and Guenther Wittlinger at a conference in New York in 1972. Ten years after that they returned to Toronto to create a training program for therapists. Many classes were taught in the United States and Canada in the 80s and by 1993, the first MLD certifications were available to North America through the Dr. Vodder school.
Techniques
A Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage will use several techniques to get the built-up fluid moving.
- Effleurage: long strokes across certain areas. They follow your veins to push toxins out of your system and reinforce healthy blood flow.
- Vodder: Uses sweeping motions around the treatment area.
- Foldi: Also an extension of Vodder that goes back and forth between circular hand motions and relaxation.
- Leduc: Uses “call up” and “reabsorption” movements to collect lymph fluid and redirect it into the larger lymphatic system.
- Casley-Smith: Uses gentle, slow effleurage movements with the sides of the hands.
- Avoid using massage oil or lotion.
Benefits
Who benefits from Manual Lymphatic Drainage? The short answer is everyone.
Our lymph nodes are responsible for boosting immunity and transporting waste in the body. When the lymphatic system gets congested, it can lead to a compromised immune system. Lymph fluid is filled with disease-fighting white blood cells. This fluid getting stuck can lead to things like lymphedema.
Lymphatic vessels can become congested due to surgery (cosmetic and non-cosmetic), infection, trauma, and disease such as cancer. People with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic venous insufficiency (which happens when your leg veins are not working correctly) and lipedema (where abnormal fat accumulates in your body) can benefit greatly from MLD.
Citations
Cleveland Clinic. “What Is Lymph and Why Is It Important?” Cleveland Clinic, 5 Aug. 2024, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/25209-lymph.
Cleveland Clinic. “Lymphatic Drainage Massage: What It Is, What It Does & Whether You Need It.” Cleveland Clinic, 25 Sept. 2024, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21768-lymphatic-drainage-massage.
“Manual Lymphatic Drainage.” Physiopedia, www.physio-pedia.com/Manual_Lymphatic_Drainage. Accessed 25 Oct. 2024.
Paturel, Amy. “FAQs about Lymphatic Drainage Massage.” Cedars Sinai, 22 Aug. 2023, www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/lymphatic-drainage-massage-faqs.html.
Vodder School International. “Manual Lymph Drainage History (MLD).” Vodderschool.Com, vodderschool.com/manual_lymph_drainage_history. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.
de Godoy, José Maria Pereira et al. “Evolution of Godoy & Godoy manual lymph drainage. Technique with linear Movements.” Clinics and practice vol. 7,4 1006. 24 Oct. 2017, doi:10.4081/cp.2017.1006
