How to Perform Lymphatic Drainage Massage
The human lymphatic system is responsible for draining fluids from the tissues that make up the body. The fluids include waste products, immune cells, and toxins from the body. It comprises lymph vessels and nodes. When they’re working poorly, it’s referred to medically as a lymphatic dysfunction.
An experienced chiropractor near LAX can help you to identify when your lymphatic system is in poor condition. When this happens, the tissues simply become overly swollen with excess fluids. Most people notice this condition in their legs and arms. However, other parts of the body can be affected too.
You may hear your chiropractor near LAX refer to this condition as lymphedema. It simply refers to the direct swelling that is a result of your lymphatic disorder. This condition can be genetic, life-long, or be the result of a disease or injury. When you experience this condition, and it’s not a result of genetics, it’s commonly referred to as secondary lymphedema. One of the most common conditions that cause this secondary lymphedema condition is cancer.
Symptoms Of Lymphatic Dysfunction
When it comes to identifying a lymphatic dysfunction, lymphedema is one of the most common symptoms. This swelling can drastically reduce your range of motion. In some cases, you may experience aching or a feeling of heaviness in the body. Some other common symptoms include:
- Fluid Leakage
- Infection
- Blisters
- Discoloration
In some rarer cases, this condition can cause swelling in your neck. This can lead to swallowing issues, shallow breathing, drooling, nasal congestion, and ear pain. When experiencing this type of swelling, it’s not uncommon to notice vision changes.
Managing Lymphatic Dysfunction
You can manage your lymphatic dysfunction from your home most of the time. Using compression garments like socks and sleeves is a popular at-home treatment. You should talk with your doctor about what grade of compression you should purchase. This grade will vary depending on how severe your swelling gets.
A type of massage therapy near LAX that is commonly recommended for those with severe lymphatic dysfunctions is pneumatic compression. This involves using compression therapy that is timed to inflate and deflated. This works to stimulate the movement of fluid in your lymphatic system.
Working out is another great way to treat this condition. During the contraction phase of each exercise, pressure is internally applied to your lymph vessels. This pressure helps to reduce swelling by allowing fluid to move more readily throughout the body. Anyone who provides massages near LAX should be able to give you a list of exercises to perform.
Therapeutic massages near LAX are another great form of treatment. Massage therapy near LAX stimulates the lymphatic systems in a similar way to pneumatic compression. Since there are many different types of massages near LAX, you may want to consult with your massage therapist to determine what type of massage is right for your condition.
While lymphatic dysfunction can be a chronic condition, it’s one that is fully manageable. With a mixture of therapeutic massages near LAX and compression therapies, you’ll be well on your way to reducing unwanted bodily swelling.