Lymphedema

I would not be surprised if you told me you’ve heard the term lymphedema (lim-fuh-dee-muh) before. Millions of Americans live with it and there are many ailments that cause it. I would be surprised, and pleasantly so, if you told me you knew that some physical therapists can treat symptoms of lymphedema.

Just what is lymphedema?

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One of the lymphatic system’s jobs is to be part of the clean up crew. A small amount of fluid leaks out of our tiniest blood vessels naturally and the lymph system kind of picks it up, cleans it up, and carries it back to the main blood vessels. Lymphedema is swelling that results from lymph fluid hanging out where it doesn’t belong. This usually happens in arms and legs due to some kind of blockage in the lymphatic system.

How does physical therapy help?

A PT will use several tools to help get the lymph fluid moving again. This can include compression sock or sleeve recommendations, specific exercises, and elevating the affected limb. A couple of the most interesting PT tools I’ve seen used for lymphedema are manual lymphatic drainage (just a fancy way to say massage) and low level laser therapy, where PTs use a specific type of laser to help loosen stiff tissues. Please do not laser yourself! Physical therapists spend several intense years educating themselves on how to do things like this safely for you.

If you’re looking for more in-depth info on lymphedema, I recommend starting here:

https://www.choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-lymphedema