Fighting inflammation and swelling with Lymphatic Drainage Massage in Toledo, Ohio at Massage Therapy Center of Sylvania
You are probably wondering what a lymphatic drainage massage is, it sounds complicated. If you are like me, your first question is...
What is the lymphatic system?
The best example I have ever read on the lymphatic system was on Reddit. A medical student explained it by using a highway analogy.
You have blood in your body that moves from the heart to your entire body. Its most important job is to carry nutrients everywhere. However, to do this, the blood has to leave its highway (the arteries) onto the local roads through the tissue (capillary beds).
Now that the blood has dropped off the nutrients, it has to get back onto the highway to go to the heart where it can get more nutrients. However, the on-ramp back onto the highway is exceedingly narrow. Just one lane.
All the fluid that left that highway is trying to get back onto the highway, but it can't.
This is where the lymphatic system comes in. It is a detour back to the heart. However, along this detour, there are many checkpoints (lymph nodes) where the police (B and T cells) make sure there are no criminals (viruses, bacteria, etc.). This is where the immune role of the lymph system comes into play.
When you get sick, your lymph nodes might enlarge because it senses that there is some foreign toxin or thing that shouldn't be there.
So going back to our analogy. Now that the fluid has passed through all the checkpoints, it gets deposited back into the main highway and goes back to heart. From there, the whole process starts over again.
Who Should Receive Lymphatic Drainage Massage Therapy?
Lymphedema is the term we use to describe the condition when there is some kind of blockage in the lymphatic system. Often this occurs when a person is undergoing lymph node removal as a part of cancer treatment causing painful swelling in the legs and arms.
Stagnation of lymph fluid can also be caused by clothing that fits too tight, heart issues, surgery, sports injuries including sprains and fractures or radiation therapy. If you are suffering from Lymphedema in the Toledo or Sylvania Ohio Area, please call Massage Therapy Center of Sylvania. We can offer relief.
What is Lymphatic Drainage Massage?
A lymphatic drainage massage uses very light pressure and long, rhythmic strokes that move the built-up lymphatic fluid and directs the toxins into the organs that can properly remove them.
A trained practitioner’s hands can simply apply pressure to re-stimulate the natural contractions of the lymphatic system. This will move the stagnant fluid back into the natural lymph flow of the body.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage (LDM) is a massage therapy technique used to increase lymph flow, treat lymphedema and support the overall functioning of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a significant part of the body’s immune system, and the proper movement of lymph through the body's tissues is necessary for proper healing, removal of wastes, and effective immune system functioning. Together with other treatments like exercising to promote circulation, compression therapy, anti-inflammatory drugs, and ice packs, Lymphatic Drainage Therapy is for removing the build-up of lymph fluid and increasing your body’s lymphatic circulation.
Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage Therapy
reduction of pain and swelling enhanced immune function faster and more complete recovery from sports injuries removal of cellular wastes and toxins enhanced tissue regeneration improved skin quality
“If you are looking for gentle relief of swelling and edema, manual lymphatic drainage therapy is for you.” Says Tonya Snyr L.M.T., owner of Massage Therapy Center of Sylvania. “ I have treated patients from Toledo to Adrian and maybe even further, with lymphatic drainage massage because not only does it help with swelling from injury and scar tissue formation, it also benefits patients dealing with high levels of stress, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue. It is such a light technique, unlike deep tissue massage, and really helps people relax”
At Massage Therapy Center of Sylvania, we utilize Lymphatic Drainage Massage as part of every Medical Massage session or as a stand-alone therapy, so if you suffer from lymphedema or have recently had a sports injury, schedule a Lymphatic Drainage Massage session today! We have been treating patients in Toledo, Sylvania, Perrysburg, Holland, Maumee and other parts of Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio for over a decade and are the areas most experienced lymphatic drainage massage therapist.