What is Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage?
Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) is a technique developed by the Vodders (Dr. Emil Vodder and his wife, Estrid) in 1936 in Paris for treatment of swollen lymph nodes [1], MLD is a light, skin-stretching massage that uses gentle pressure which helps promote the movement of lymphatic fluid out of the swollen limb. It should not be confused with a traditional massage. Also, this is not incisional drainage massage. No fluid is expressed outside the body. MLD is specifically focused on the lymph vessels to the help the flow of lymphatic fluid. Therapy is applied to your unaffected areas first, making it possible for the fluid to move out of the affected area, or “decongest” the region. MLD helps open the remaining functioning lymph collectors and move protein and fluid into them, as well as to help speed up lymph fluid flow through the lymphatics.
