What lymphatic drainage is used for
The very first thing we want to clarify is what we use lymphatic drainage for.
Lymphatic drainage is a true jack-of-all-trades. For lymphatic drainage is the remedy for strains, sprains, torn muscle fibers, and other injuries that involve swelling.
It is also helpful for migraines and tension headaches, digestive difficulties, and swollen legs caused by standing for a long time or too little movement. In addition, lymphatic drainage increases the tension in the skin, gives a radiant skin tone, and has a calming effect on the whole nervous system. Lymphatic drainage has a tonus-reducing and pain-relieving effect. These are an insane number of very good reasons to give it a try.
How does the lymphatic system work and what does it do?
The most important task of the lymphatic vessels is drainage and removal of tissue fluid.
The lymphatic system is an important part of the immune defense system. It also ensures the absorption and transport of food fats in the small intestine.
For this system to function smoothly, several factors have to work together.
The lymphatic system transports lymph fluid from all corners of your body into the venous bloodstream. The vessels arise freely in the tissue and transport the lymph fluid to the heart. The lymphatic system has no pump like the cardiovascular system. It is influenced by breathing, intestinal peristalsis, muscle pumps, and other factors. In addition, on the way to the heart, where the lymph is eventually supposed to go, there are always small filtering stations – the lymph nodes.
Let us look at where everything gets started
Small lymph capillaries cover your body like a net. Since these do not yet have any valves, a therapist can push the lymph in the desired drainage direction. Massage therapists make use of this especially in the case of injuries and/or the removal of larger accumulations of lymph nodes. Accumulated lymph fluid can be shifted via the capillary network. This in turn allows it to reach the larger pre collectors.
From the capillary network, it goes on to the pre-collectors. The pre-collectors, you guessed it, connect to the collectors.
This is where a lot of lymphatic magic happens.
The collectors have valves, which prevent the lymph fluid from flowing back, and they are the main transport vessels.
The collectors do not run directly towards the heart. They first transport the fluid to the large lymphatic trunks. On the arms and legs, this works parallel to the extremities. On the trunk, they run in a star shape towards the armpit and groin.
The intermediate lymph nodes are between 2 mm and 30 mm long. Many of them are located in the abdomen, neck, and head. They function as filters and process metabolic waste products and pathogens. Each lymph node has an associated region. This makes it possible to draw conclusions about the location of the problem in the case of enlarged lymph nodes.
Slow and gentle is key to lymphatic drainage
Now the question always arises why treatments are done slowly and gently. Imagine that the vessels on which the lymphatic drainage is carried out are very delicate and treatment is strenuous for the vessels. It can be compared to decorating a cake. The cream can be spread on the cake in no time with a kitchen aid. With a piping bag, you need a lot more energy to get the cream onto the cake. The opening at the front is smaller, so you need just the right amount of pressure, a little energy, and a lot of patience to get everything going.
Furthermore, the system is not exactly the fastest. The frequency is very low.
From top to bottom
During therapies, we work from head to toe. Clients often wonder why the neck is being worked on but they came in with a knee injury. This is easily explained. By clearing the upper vessels, space is created for fluid from vessels further away. It also creates a suction effect that helps the therapist work. When the knee hurts, all the larger, overlying areas are pre-treated. This clears the way and the actual affected area is more quickly free of lymph accumulation or, simply put, swelling.
So little pressure?
Yes, that little bit of pressure is enough.
As a small guideline, trainees like to hear that the pressure should not suppress a slice of (soft) cheese. But that is only a small guideline.
We do not want to squeeze the vessels but support them with twist, pump, and scoop grips. There is no set grip strength. The therapist adjusts the pressure according to the region of the body. This is where the feeling-hands come into play. Lymphatic drainage cannot be administered without feeling. It is insanely important for a therapist to feel and adjust the pressure.
Overall, lymphatic drainage is a very gentle, tactile form of massage.
The therapist tries to feel the smallest changes under the fingertips. In this way, he or she reads and understands the client’s body. During lymphatic drainage, the person being treated ideally becomes calmer, more relaxed, and looser. A feeling of lightness, less pain, and a general calmness is often described. A short rest after the treatment, moving the extremities, and slowly getting up round off a treatment perfectly.
Further information
- Possible indications have already been mentioned above.
Absolute contraindications
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypersensitivity of the sinus caroticus
- Cardiac arrhythmia
This article is intended to clear up the mystery of lymphatic drainage.
I hope you enjoyed reading and are looking forward to your next lymphatic drainage.
If you have any questions, please free to talk to one of our therapists at innerOM.
Source: Fundamentals of Manual Lymph Drainage/Urban Fischer Verlag/Michael Földi Roman Stößenreuther