Manual Lymphatic Drainage after Orthopaedic Surgery: Healing and Rehabilitation
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is described as "one of the best kept secrets of the health and beauty scene". Nowadays, MLD became a standardised treatment after orthopaedic surgeries and sport injuries, and is regularly prescribed by majority of European top surgeons to fasten the healing and rehabilitation.
The musculoskeletal system contains an extensive network of lymphatic vessels. Because of the nature of orthopedic surgery, significant trauma and muscular tightness often result, which act to restrict tissue fluid movement creating oedema, defined as excess fluid in the interstitium. Acute oedema immediately follows, brought about by a cascade of events produced by the body's inflammatory response to trauma. Although the body's lymphatic system is designed to cope with this process to a certain degree by absorbing these proteins and emptying them into the central circulatory system, when the lymph load exceeds functional transport capacity and/or efficiency, this protein content stagnates in the interstitium. This causes incompetence of the lymphatic system and persistent edema.
MLD treatment is designed to optimize the lymphatic system by clearing lymphatic drainage areas adjacent to the regions of edema, and develop new pathways for travel.
After experiencing a sports injury or undergoing orthopedic surgery, lymphatic drainage can be a powerful tool for quicker and more effective recovery.
The key benefits of lymphatic drainage treatments:
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is described as "one of the best kept secrets of the health and beauty scene". Nowadays, MLD became a standardised treatment after orthopaedic surgeries and sport injuries, and is regularly prescribed by majority of European top surgeons to fasten the healing and rehabilitation.
The musculoskeletal system contains an extensive network of lymphatic vessels. Because of the nature of orthopedic surgery, significant trauma and muscular tightness often result, which act to restrict tissue fluid movement creating oedema, defined as excess fluid in the interstitium. Acute oedema immediately follows, brought about by a cascade of events produced by the body's inflammatory response to trauma. Although the body's lymphatic system is designed to cope with this process to a certain degree by absorbing these proteins and emptying them into the central circulatory system, when the lymph load exceeds functional transport capacity and/or efficiency, this protein content stagnates in the interstitium. This causes incompetence of the lymphatic system and persistent edema.
MLD treatment is designed to optimize the lymphatic system by clearing lymphatic drainage areas adjacent to the regions of edema, and develop new pathways for travel.
After experiencing a sports injury or undergoing orthopedic surgery, lymphatic drainage can be a powerful tool for quicker and more effective recovery.
The key benefits of lymphatic drainage treatments:
- Reduces Swelling: Swelling, caused by fluid build-up, is a common symptom after injuries and surgeries. Unmanaged oedema promotes less favourable states of repaired tissue that is prone to subsequent injury, or is less functional than the uninjured tissue state. Lymphatic drainage helps move this excess fluid away from the affected area, reducing pain and discomfort. This allows for better mobility and faster return to normal function.
- Reduce Pain: Gentle lymphatic drainage techniques stimulates a general parasympathetic response resulting general relaxation. The absorption of of nociceptive chemical stimulants, such as lactic acid, cytokines, and inflammatory cytokines from interstitial environment results the analgesic effect. The rhythmic, intermittent and gentle pressures of lymphatic drainage stimulate the large diameter, non-nociceptive nerve fibres and decrease pain.
- Improve Circulation and Tissue Repair: The lymphatic system transports nutrients and oxygen to cells while removing waste products and inflammatory markers. Effective drainage boosts this process, promoting faster healing and tissue regeneration. This reduces the risk of complications and scars, leading to a more complete recovery.
- Strengthen Immune System: The lymphatic system plays a vital role in the immune response. By stimulating the flow of lymph, lymphatic drainage helps remove toxins, proteins and inflammatory markers from the body. This strengthens the immune system, reducing the risk of post-surgery infection.
- Reduce Scarring and Fibrosis: While orthopaedic surgery can be life-changing, it often leaves behind a hidden foe: scar tissue and fibrosis. Fibrosis is an abnormal buildup of fibrous tissue, often caused by inflammation or surgical trauma. while scar tissue is body's natural response to injury, replacing damaged tissues with a fence collagen network. Both might significantly limit the movement and functionality, cause stiffness, pain and even joint contractures, severely limiting range of motion. Starting lymphatic drainage treatments soon after surgery helps to prevent all undesirable effects and leads to full recovery
