Manual Lymph Drainage should not be confused with a massage. MLD is an advanced and highly skilled therapy that requires not only the patience, but the utter concentration of the therapist.
To understand what Manual Lymph Drainage is and how it works, it is important to first understand how the body’s Lymphatic System works.
I have prepared a short and very clear explanation of what your lymphatic system is, how it works and why it is so vital to your health and well-being.
You will find this information under the FAQ’s section: What is the lymphatic system? Click here to view the article.
Although MLD treatments are sometimes also offered at places such as salons and health spas, it is recommended that you choose a registered healthcare professional, or someone with extensive knowledge/expertise and experience in working with surgical patients to provide quality post-surgical care.
What is the difference between MLD and everyday massage?
The word massage is derived from the Greek term ‘massain’ , which means ‘to knead’. It is used to describe techniques such as effleurage, petrissage, vibration, etc. which are traditionally applied to treat ailments in muscle tissues, tendons and ligaments – and in order to achieve the desired effect, these techniques are generally applied with considerable pressure.
MLD on the other hand is a very gentle manual technique, designed to have an effect on fluid components and lymphatic structures located in superficial tissues, i.e. the skin and the subcutis, which is a layer of connective tissue between the skin and muscle tissues.
The only commonality between MLD and everyday massage is that both techniques are applied manually. There are significant differences in technique, pressure and the indications for which these two therapeutic measures are used.