Manual Lymphatic Drainage
What is Manual Lymphatic Drainage?
Lymphatic fluid is made up of water, protein and cellular debris—viruses, bacteria and other pollutants that are drained by the tissues of the body.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a light, skin-stretching technique that helps promote the movement of lymphatic fluid out of swollen limbs. MLD is specifically focused on the lymph vessels to 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.
What can MLD Therapy accomplish?
Manual Lymphatic Drainage is intended to stimulate lymph nodes and increase rhythmic contractions of the lymphatic system to enhance their activity so that stagnant lymphatic fluid can be rerouted.
MLD also:
Increases blood flow in deep and superficial veins
Is effective as a preventative treatment
Is effective as a postoperative rehabilitation treatment
May be useful in conditions such as post-traumatic and post-surgical edema, and palliative care
Manual Lymphatic Drainage - Vodder Technique
Manual Lymphatic Drainage IS NOT a traditional massage
While there are various types of MLD that are effective, we are certified and trained to use the Vodder Technique.
The Vodder technique is composed of four main strokes: stationary circles, scoop, pump, and rotary strokes. When used in combination with each other, and in a specific pattern, these strokes have been proven effective in stimulating the flow of lymphatic fluid.
Indications:
- Primary or secondary lymphedema
- Lipedema
- Phlebo-lymphostatic edema
- Postoperative edema
- Posttraumatic edema
- Chronic venous insufficiency
- Palliative Care: Provision of comfort and pain relief when other physical therapies are no longer appropriate
- Complimentary service for stress relief and general relaxation
Contraindications:
Manual Lymphatic Drainage cannot be provided to clients with:
- Decompensated cardiac insufficiency
- Untreated Congestive Heart Failure (CHF - cardiac edema)
- Acute inflammation caused by pathogenic germs (bacteria, fungi, viruses). The germs could be spread by the manual lymph drainage, with resulting blood poisoning (sepsis).
- Acute renal failure
- Acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT)/blot clots
Health Insurance Billing & Payment
We DO accept Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards. A prescription is recommended for your records.
We DO NOT currently bill health insurance providers directly.
We are working towards offering insurance billing for certain health insurance providers and anticipate credentialing approval by January 2022.
We DO assist in requesting health insurance reimbursement.
If you would like to be reimbursed by your health insurance provider for medical massage treatment, please contact your provider to verify coverage prior to scheduling your first appointment. Once coverage is confirmed, you will need a prescription from your doctor, including a diagnosis code and treatment plan. We will provide you with a medical super bill that you can submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement.