Lymphatic Drainage Exercises

Lymphatic drainage exercise often referred to as pumping, move fluids through the lymphatic channels.

Guidelines for Lymphatic Drainage Exercises

1) Active Range Of Motion (AROM) exercises are preformed throughout each session

2) The exercises follow specific massage applied in manual lymph drainage

3) Exercises first focus on the proximal areas of body to clear the collecting lymph vessels then start in distal areas to move the peripheral lymph and decreases edema

4) Applied the exercises in elevation position

5) Avoid static and dependent postures

6) Self massage is also can be used throughout the exercises session

During Lymphatic Drainage Exercises

1) Must wear compression bandages

2) Elevate the involved limb above the level of heart

3) Deep breathing exercises is important while you doing your activities

4) Preform active, repetitive movement slowly about 1-2 seconds per repetition

5) Initially preform low number of repetitions, increases repetitions gradually

After Lymphatic Drainage Exercises

1) Take rest period with elevation the extremities for 30 minutes

2) Look carefully for signs of redness or increased the swelling in the effected limb, this could be indicated for excessive exercises

Lets Start Exercises

A) Exercises for Upper Limbs

1) Active circumduction of the arm and wrist

lying on your back, flex the involved arm to 90 degree, start active circular motion of the arm then the wrist, doing this clockwise and counterclockwise repetition in each direction 10 time

2) Bilateral hand press 

have site on chair with arms elevated to shoulders level or even higher and elbow flexed, place the palms of the hands together in front of the chest or head and press the palms together and have normal breathing and count to 10, relax and repeat up to 5 times

3) shoulders rotation
have site on chair with arms abducted and start active circular motion on your shoulders joints doing this clockwise and counterclockwise repetition in each direction 10 time

4) overhead wall press 

face a wall place one or both palms on the wall with hands above the level of shoulders, gently press the palms into the wall for several seconds without moving the body, relax and repeat up to 5 times

5) Self Massage

rest and elevate your arm on a pillows, start Effleurage massage from distal (fingers) to proximal ( axillary) of the upper limb with slight Pressure at the end point on the axillary area

REST PERIOD 

rest by lying on your back with involved arm elevated on a pillows for about 30 minutes 

B) Exercises for lower limbs

1) Unilateral knee to chest 

lying on your back and pull your knee to chest repeat this exercise 15 times, then do it same on the other leg, if there is lymphedema in one leg stat with unaffected leg first and then the effected one

2) Bilateral knee to chest 

lying on your back and gently pull your both knees to chest repeat this exercise 15 times

3) Hip rotation 

lying on your back with legs elevated and rest against wall, apply external rotation on hip joints with pressing your buttocks together and hold this position for 10 sec, then internal rotation on hip joints with pressing your buttocks together and hold this position for 10 sec repeat this exercises 5 time

4) Active Ankles movements 

lying on your back with legs elevated and rest against wall, apply planter flex with curl toes, then dorsal flex with extend toes repeated several time

REST PERIOD 

rest by lying on your back with legs elevated against the wall for about 30 minutes