By using delicate yet precise therapeutic techniques, a lymphatic drainage massage directly addresses our lymphatic system. Along with the health benefits it provides the body, lymphatic drainage massage is a popular choice among those who have been diagnosed with diseases like lymphedema, arthritis, and fibromyalgia as well as those who suffer from symptoms like swelling, discomfort, tension, exhaustion, and stiff muscles.
The lymphatic system, lymphatic drainage massages, and the overall advantages of lymphatic drainage will all be covered in this article. Contact a Massage Experts near you if you have any questions about this kind of massage or any of our other services. Please speak with your doctor before beginning any kind of treatment as well.
The Lymphatic System’s Purpose
Understanding the lymphatic system is a prerequisite for comprehending lymphatic drainage. The lymphatic system is a network of tissues, organs, and blood vessels that works as a unit to return fluid, known as lymph, to the bloodstream. It is a component of our immune system.
Several crucial duties of the lymphatic system include:
collects extra fluid that the body releases from its cells and tissues and returns it to the bloodstream.
absorbs proteins and lipids from the digestive system
releases immune cells, including white blood cells, to defend the body against pathogens including bacteria and viruses.
aids in the elimination of trash from the lymph and its transportation
The spleen, thymus, tonsils, adenoids, bone marrow, peyer’s patches, and appendix are a few of the organs that make up the lymphatic system. Other components include lymph, lymph nodes, lymphatic veins, and lymphatic ducts. Each simultaneously defends our body through our lymphatic system.
Did you know that your body contains over 600 lymph nodes? Normal lymph nodes are tiny and hard, although some people can have infected lymph nodes. When lymphatic vessels are blocked or inflamed, infected lymph nodes may swell and/or expand due to fluid buildup or inflammation.
Maintaining treatment might be particularly crucial when lymph nodes are obstructed because this condition can have major health implications.
Describe lymphedema.
Blockages that occur as the fluid lymph travels through the lymphatic system can result in an overabundance of fluid in the body’s tissues, which causes edoema (aka swelling). As a result, people who suffer this may be diagnosed with lymphedema, a chronic ailment that most frequently affects the arms or legs. Lymphedema can occur for one of two reasons. Primary lymphedema is a congenital condition. Damage to the lymphatic system caused by cancer or surgery-related lymphedema can result in secondary lymphedema.
The lymphatic system can become compromised for a variety of causes, which affects how the body eliminates fluid. As a result, extra fluid might build up in various body areas. The following are a few signs of lymphedema:
Arms or legs feeling heavy or constricted
Limitation of movement
Aches , pains or discomfort in the afflicted limb
upper body swelling, such as in the head or neck
Swelling of the full or partial leg or arm
What Happens During Lymphatic Drainage?
Along a form of massage known as lymphatic drainage, a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) delicately stretches the skin and tissues of the afflicted area in the direction of lymph flow (lymph flows in one direction, which is upward toward the neck).
By doing this, an RMT can directly influence the capillaries of the body, which are tiny vessels found in the majority of organs and are responsible for carrying lymph (fluid) to the cells and tissues of the body. It is crucial that lymphatic capillaries continue to function correctly since they aid in preventing fluid accumulation.
During a lymphatic drainage massage, an RMT might employ a variety of techniques that use mild to extremely light pressure, such as sweeping motions, circular hand motions, or hand motions to gather the lymph before redistributing it throughout the body. The RMT will focus on the lymph nodes and drain any fluid there. This procedure typically consists of two steps: clearing, which releases the lymphatic fluid, and reabsorption, which transports the fluid (lymph) to the lymph nodes.
Despite the fact that lymphatic drainage is an excellent therapy option for those with lymphedema, many people can benefit from this kind of massage because there are many different conditions that can cause body swelling. To give the lymphatic system a little push, lymphatic drainage can help even people with no health issues.
What a Lymphatic Drainage Massage Can Do for You
Lymphatic drainage can help relieve pain and stiffness in the joints experienced by people with rheumatoid arthritis as well as chronic muscle and joint pain that people with fibromyalgia regularly experience, in addition to treating edoema, which by itself can be quite relieving. Lymphatic drainage can also be used as a form of treatment for other disorders such chronic venous insufficiency and lipedema, which are both characterised by the accumulation of extra fat in the lower body and a resulting obstruction of the lymphatic system.