Those of you who know me, know that I’m probably one of the healthiest people you’ll meet. I eat well, I sleep well, I keep stress low, I exercise (sometimes I even run!). I take my vitamins. I get bodywork.

A couple of years ago my low back started hurting, then my hip. It was really painful. I got some massage. I had a mercedes benz health plan thru my partner’s job at the time. So I went to the chiropractor, the acupuncturist, the DO. I got the recommended XRays and MRI. It got a scary sounding diagnosis. In the end it was massage 2 times a week for 3 weeks that did the trick. No problem since then.

Until now. Now that I’ve been denied coverage because I had some pain and took care of myself. I’m one of the latest causualities in the pre-existing condition debate.

Perhaps there will be change soon. Senator Ron Wyden was among 13 others who voted the Baccus bill out of committee yesterday.

Talking about the ankle warrants a discussion of the foot as well, since the ankle exists to move the foot. But, you’ll have to tune in to the next newsletter for that story …

If asked to point to your ankle, you’d probably indicate the knobby bumps just above your feet. Anatomically, these are called malleoli (malleolus is singular) and they are simply the bottom part of the lower leg bones. These malleoli function like pulleys allowing muscles in the lower leg to move the foot.The ankle joint itself is the junction of three bones: the bottom of the fibula, the bottom of the tibia (shin bone) and the talus (a foot bone). The joint acts like a hinge – meaning it only moves up and down. The side to side motion you make is really a movement of the foot. Numerous ligaments bind the bones of the leg and foot together while allowing some movement.

By far the most common ankle injury is a sprain, in which a ligament is torn or overstretched. Other conditions in the neighborhood include shin splints and muscle cramps in the calves, both of which can respond well to massage treatment. A ruptured Achilles tendon is extremely painful and debilitating. After surgery and physical therapy, skilled massage can enhance the recovery.

Maintaining or regaining the function of your ankles allows you to safely propel yourself forward up Dog Mountain, take a jump shot, and pick up your (small) kids.

Originally published by Marsha Hansen, LMT in 2/06 newsletter.

LDT can be used as the sole treatment or it can be combined with massage techniques to round out the session. Often I work with people clothed (shorts and tank top). The manual pressure used is just enough to give a slight stretch to the skin.

Because LDT takes concentration to perform, the sessions are usually pretty quiet. Most people on the table fall into a deep state of relaxation. Some people feel “shifting” or “moving” happening within the body.

Although some people can not identify any post-treatment reactions, there can be many physiological “side effects”. These changes may last up to two days. More frequent urination is common, so drinking extra water helps. Some people have “weird” dreams or feel more emotional for a couple of days. Feeling more sleepy or even more energized are normal reactions, too.

The longer term effects include reduction of pain and inflammation, immune system stimulation, and improved recovery from injury or surgery.

Let’s start with the contraindications or the reasons you should not have LDT treatment. Do you have a fever or are you hemorrhaging? If yes, wait until you’ve recovered before seeking lymph treatment. Likewise for the ACUTE phase of an infectious or inflammatory disease. Chronic, serious contraindications include congestive heart failure, blood clots (thrombosis), an aortic aneurysm, or a venous obstruction. There are precautions a therapist should take for some other conditions.

In general, though, LDT is such a gentle treatment that almost anyone with any condition (including good health) can benefit. Remember, lymph drainage (pronounced like “massage”) helps encourage fluid circulation, including lymph fluid, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and synovial fluid. Activating these systems helps your body eliminate more toxins. It also promotes tissue regeneration and faster healing after illness, injury or surgery.

The immune system can be stimulated as this improved flow of lymph increases the antibody/antigen contact in the lymph nodes. The sympathetic nervous system – the part that keeps us in the “stressed out” mode – can be calmed by LDT, reducing the effects of chronic stress. Pain and muscle spasm are also reduced by lymph drainage therapy.

I’m very excited about the application of LDT in my practice. My favorite referrals are of people who are seeking pain reduction, injury recovery, or surgical support. The pain reduction, tissue rejuvenation and toxin elimination offered by LDT can really benefit these clients.

Clients who come in for maintenance massage can benefit from having lymph drainage incorporated into the session to reduce stress and pain and to boost the immune system.

1. lymph and the lymph system

2. benefits of and contraindications for LDT

3. what to expect during & after a session

The lymph system is a very important component of the immune system. The fluid (lymph fluid) that moves through the system starts from the watery environment outside of tissue cells where cellular waste accumulates. After leaving this area (the interstitial environment), the lymph fluid carries the waste products – including dead cell fragments, proteins, lipids (fats), immune cells, hormones, and junk your body doesn’t use (like food coloring or preservatives) – through a series of vessels.

These vessels gently move the lymph through lymph nodes where the fluid is filtered and concentrated (some of the liquid is reabsorbed by the body). This is also where toxins can be captured and destroyed by the immune cells. The lymph fluid is eventually dumped into the the circulatory system near the heart. From here it is mixed with the blood and circulated to the organs of elimination. You then release the waste products and toxins from your body by urinating, sweating, etc.

When lymph tissues are damaged – by injury, disease, or even some disease treatments (radiation, surgery)- their ability to clear their interstitial areas of waste can be compromised. Cells, in a sense, begin to drown in their own waste which can cause toxicity, edema (swelling), and pain.

LDT helps improve lymph flow by stimulating the lymph vessel contractions. The treatment improves the strength and speed of these contractions. In the next post we’ll look at some of the many, many conditions which can be improved by the use of LDT. Stay tuned…

As a massage therapist, working on an area of inflamation is contraindicated – we’re not supposed to treat it. With MLD I’ll will learn – among other things – how to treat inflamation gently, effectively, and safely.

Learning to treat an area of inflamation within hours of onset, will allow me the ability to help clients enhance the recovery process. By adding this tool to my bag of tricks, I can help even more people who have had surgery or have been injured.

The study chronicles the first five days after major surgery for over 600 veterans. Two hundred participants were in the group receiving a basic, daily back massage. The authors of the study found significant decrease in pain intensity and pain unpleasantness measured for the massage group compared to the control group.

The researchers conclude “massage is an effective and safe adjuvant therapy for the relief of acute postoperative pain in patients undergoing major operations.”

Here is a link to an article about this study. To read the full report you will have to have a subscription.