PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF A NEW, MORE SIMPLIFIED PHYSIOTHERAPY TECHNIQUE FOR LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate a new, more simplified physiotherapytechnique for management of peripheral lymphedema. Fifteen patients (11 female, 4 male) withages varying from 22 to 63 years (average 54 years) were included in this study. All presentedwith stage I or II lower limb lymphedema confirmed by lymphoscintigraphy. Each patientunderwent a newly designed modified manual lymph drainage technique regularly performed fivetimes a week, one hour per session after one month. The new technique consisted of utilizingsticks, rollers or other cylindrical, flexible, and malleable material which served as a lymphpromoting drainage device. All patients demonstrated a highly significant uniform reduction in girth of the leg affectedby lymphedema (circumference reduction 2 to 4 cm; average 2.4 cm). After treatment, repeatlymphoscintigraphy suggested a generalized improvement in the scintiscans compared with theinitial patterns.This new manual lymph drainage technique efficiently reduces peripheral lymphedema andis less cumbersome and time consuming than standard combined (“decongestive”)physiotherapy methods.