Massage

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

A special form of massage is used in Lymphoedema treatment. It is based on a technique called Manual Lymphatic Drainage or MLD. Although you may know of a number of health clinics and treatment centres offering MLD, there are only a small number of therapists who are trained to treat lymphoedema.

The list of UK based MLD therapists is available from MLD UK and you may also seek advice from the Lymphoedema Support Network. In Leeds, all the members of the Lymphoedema team are qualified Casley Smith trained therapists.

MLD helps to form pathways for the lymph to drain away from the congested areas of the body and will usually start on areas on the neck and trunk that will form the exit routes for the swelling to drain into. MLD is used as a part of intensive treatment.

Simple Lymphatic Drainage

Simple Lymphatic Drainage or SLD is a self treatment that you can learn to do as part of maintenance therapy. Sometimes a partner or carer is also shown how to do this massage. SLD is based on the same principles as MLD.

You will be shown how to do self massage as part of your self treatment. A video or DVD showing SLD and other aspects of treatment is available from the Lymphoedema Support Network.