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Manual Lymphatic Drainage - Health Web |
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 Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a type of gentle massage which is believed by proponents to encourage the natural circulation of the lymph through the body. The lymph system depends on peristalsis and the movement of skeletal muscles to squeeze fluid through lymph ducts and vessels.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage was pioneered by Dr. Emil Vodder in the 1930s for the treatment of chronic sinusitis and other immune disorders. While working on the French Riviera treating patients with chronic colds, they noticed these patients had swollen lymph nodes. In the 1930s it was taboo to tamper with the lymphatic system due to the medical profession's poor understanding of this system. The Vodders were not deterred by this, and in 1932 began to study the lymph system, and developed careful hand movements to cause lymph movement. In 1936 after four years of research they introduced this technique in Paris, France.
It is now recognized as a primary tool in Lymphedema management. Therapists can today receive certification through special classes conducted by various organizations specializing in MLD.
Lymphatic system
The lymphatic system is a complex network of lymphoid organs, lymph nodes, lymph ducts, lymphatic tissues, lymph capillaries and lymph vessels that produce and transport lymph fluid from tissues to the circulatory system. The lymphatic system is a major part of the immune system.
The lymphatic system has three interrelated functions: (1) removal of excess fluids from body tissues, (2) absorption of fatty acids and subsequent transport of fat, as chyle, to the circulatory system and, (3) production of immune cells such as lymphocytes (e.g. antibody producing plasma cells) and monocytes.
Skeletal muscle
Skeletal muscle is a type of striated muscle, usually attached to the skeleton. Skeletal muscles are used to create movement, by applying force to bones and joints; via contraction. They generally contract voluntarily (via somatic nerve stimulation), although they can contract involuntarily through reflexes. The whole muscle is wrapped in a special type of connective tissue, epimysium.
Muscle cells (also called fibers) have an elongated, cylindrical shape, and are multinucleated (in vertebrates and flies). The nuclei of these muscles are located in the peripheral aspect of the cell, just under the plasma membrane, which vacates the central part of the muscle fiber for myofibrils. (Conversely, when the nucleus is located in the center it is considered a pathologic condition known as centronuclear myopathy.)
Skeletal muscles have one end (the "origin") attached to a bone closer to the centre of the body's axis and this is often but not always a relatively stationary bone (such as the scapula) and the other end (the "insertion") is attached across a joint to another bone further from the body's axis (such as the humerus). Contraction of the muscle causes the bones to rotate about the joint and the bones to move relative to one another (such as lifting of the upper arm in the case of the origin and insertion described here).
There are several different ways to categorize the type of skeletal muscle fibers (see below). One method uses the type of protein contained in myosin (one of the important proteins that is responsible for the ability of muscle to contract). Using this classification scheme, there are two major types of fibers for skeletal muscles: Type I and Type II. Type I fibers appear reddish. They are good for endurance and are slow to tire because they use oxidative metabolism. Type II fibers are whitish; they are used for short bursts of speed and power, and use both oxidative metabolism and anaerobic metabolism depending on the particular sub-type, and are therefore quicker to fatigue.
Emil Vodder
Dr. Emil Vodder (February 20, 1896 - February 17, 1986) and his wife Dr. Estrid Vodder pioneered the specialty of medicine called "lymphology". While working on the French Riviera treating patients with chronic colds, they noticed these patients had swollen lymph nodes. In the 1930s it was taboo to tamper with the lymphatic system due to the medical profession's poor understanding of this system. The Vodders were not deterred by this, and in 1932 began to study the lymph system, and developed careful hand movements to cause lymph movement. In 1936 after four years of research they introduced this technique to the world in Paris, France. They spent the rest of their lives demonstrating and teaching this method.
This careful hand movement that stretches and twists the skin to move the lymph is taught in its unaltered form today and is the gold standard for Manual lymphatic drainage.
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Maneuver
