Lymphedema causes swelling in your arms or legs because lymph fluid builds up in your tissues. If you’re living with lymphedema, you know how frustrating the swelling and discomfort can be.

However, you don’t have to accept chronic swelling as your new normal. As a certified lymphedema therapist, I’ve seen firsthand how lymphatic drainage massage for lymphedema can improve symptoms and help you feel more in control.

It’s one of the most effective tools I use in my practice, and you can learn to do it at home, too.

What Is Lymphedema?

Lymphedema is a chronic condition that affects up to 10 million Americans and hundreds of millions of people worldwide. It happens when lymph fluid accumulates in your body, usually in your arms or legs, causing swelling that can range from mild to severe.

There are two main types:

• Primary lymphedema develops because of congenital abnormalities in your lymphatic system. In other words, you’re born with lymphatic system problems that lead to swelling.
• Secondary lymphedema is more common. It develops after damage to your lymphatic system from surgery, radiation therapy, infection, or trauma. 

Many of the lymphedema patients I see at the PT clinic developed secondary lymphedema after cancer treatment, particularly breast cancer survivors.

Lymphedema is a chronic condition, but it’s treatable. You can manage your symptoms and reduce swelling with the right approach and a lymphedema self-care routine.

What Is Lymphatic Drainage Massage?

Lymphatic drainage massage, also called Manual Lymphatic Drainage or MLD, is a specialized massage technique that helps move lymph fluid from swollen areas.

It’s very different from a traditional massage.

Instead of deep pressure on your muscles, lymph drainage massage uses light, gentle strokes and rhythmic movements on your skin.

The pressure is so light it might not even feel like a massage at first.

Your lymphatic system is like a drainage network that moves fluid throughout your body. When you have lymphedema, that system isn’t working properly, so fluid backs up and causes swelling.

Lymphatic drainage massage stimulates the healthy parts of your lymphatic system to pick up the extra fluid and move it out of the swollen area.

The gentle pressure and movements guide the lymph fluid toward working lymph vessels, where it can be filtered and eliminated from your body.

Learn more about lymphedema treatment.

Does Lymphatic Drainage Massage Help with Lymphedema?

Yes, manual lymphatic drainage can be very helpful for managing lymphedema.

As a certified lymphedema therapist, it’s one of the main treatment methods I use to help my patients reduce swelling and live with fewer limitations.

Lymphatic drainage massage is a core part of Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT), which is the gold standard treatment for lymphedema.

That said, manual lymph drainage works best as part of a complete lymphedema care routine that also includes compression therapy, exercise, and skin care. It’s an important tool, but it’s not the only tool you need to relieve lymphedema.

Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage Massage

1. Reduced Swelling

Lymphatic drainage massage stimulates the movement of lymph fluid throughout your body. The gentle, targeted pressure encourages excess fluid to drain from your tissues, especially in your arms and legs, where swelling tends to happen.

The massage guides lymph fluid to your lymph nodes, where waste products get filtered and eliminated. This relieves the discomfort and heaviness that come with swelling and supports your overall lymphatic system.

See this before and after lymphatic drainage massage, and learn what to expect! 

2. Better Lymphatic Function

Lymphatic drainage massage gives you temporary swelling relief, but it does more than that. It stimulates sluggish lymphatic vessels and takes some of the burden off your compromised lymphatic system.

Over time, this helps with long-term lymphedema management. The chronic swelling becomes less intense, which makes it easier to keep under control, especially in early lymphedema stages.

3. Better Quality of Life

Lymphedema often makes normal daily activities, such as walking or brushing your hair, challenging. Supporting your lymphatic system through lymphatic drainage massage helps you with swelling, pain management, and discomfort so you can live life more fully.

Learn more about lymphedema life expectancy.

4. Prevention of Complications

Lymphatic drainage massage helps you stay ahead of early or moderate lymphedema symptoms. If lymphedema goes untreated, it can lead to infections like cellulitis and skin changes.

Building a strong lymphedema self-care routine that includes lymphatic drainage helps you support your lymphatic system and prevent your swelling from getting worse.

How Do You Do Lymphatic Drainage Massage for Lymphedema?

Lymphatic drainage massage uses very light, gentle strokes on your skin. You’ll use your hands to move the lymph fluid toward your healthy lymph nodes.

I’ve seen some tutorials online tell you to “brush toward your heart,” but that’s not accurate for lymphatic massage. You need to direct the fluid toward functioning lymph nodes, not toward your heart.

Your main lymph node clusters are in your neck, armpits, and groin. In a healthy lymphatic system, these nodes filter and drain lymph fluid. But if you’ve had surgery, radiation, or injury, some of your lymph nodes may be damaged or removed.

If your lymph nodes in one area aren’t working (like your armpit after breast cancer surgery), you’ll need to redirect the fluid to other unaffected lymph nodes instead.

For example, you might guide fluid from your affected arm toward the lymph nodes in your neck or groin on the opposite side of your body.

You can do lymphatic drainage massage on just the affected area—such as your arm, leg, neck, or genital area—or you can do full-body routines. Both approaches are helpful.

A certified lymphedema therapist will do manual lymph drainage as part of Complete Decongestive Therapy, but you also can (and should!) learn lymphatic drainage techniques to do at home.

Doing MLD at home, along with other treatments, will make a big difference in controlling your swelling.

Can You Do Lymphatic Drainage Massage at Home?

Yes, you can do lymphatic drainage massage at home. In fact, I recommend it to my lymphedema patients as one of the best self-care techniques for managing swelling.

However, it’s important to learn the right way to do it.

You should either follow the routine your physical therapist teaches you or use a reputable tutorial created by someone who specializes in lymphedema.

Lymphatic drainage massage has become trendy in health and wellness circles, and many tutorials out there aren’t created by people who understand the lymphatic system and lymphedema.

Doing the massage incorrectly can sometimes make the swelling and other lymphedema symptoms worse, so it’s important to learn from reputable resources or a licensed massage therapist.

I created a few different lymphatic drainage massage guides for people living with lymphedema, explaining the same techniques I use at the physical therapy clinic:

FAQs

How long after a lymphatic drainage massage do you see results?

Most people see results pretty much immediately after a lymphatic drainage massage. Your swelling will usually go down, and you might feel lighter and more comfortable.

That said, lymphatic drainage massage doesn’t permanently change or reverse the damage to your lymphatic system. It provides temporary relief by moving the fluid out of the swollen area. But if you do it regularly, managing your swelling becomes easier and easier over time.

How often should you do lymphatic drainage massage for lymphedema?

This is really a personal choice. Some people do lymphatic drainage massage every day, and others do it as needed when they notice swelling increasing.

However, I recommend all my lymphedema patients to be consistent. If your swelling has gone down, keep up with your regular lymphatic drainage practice. This makes it much easier to treat lymphedema and keep the swelling under control long-term.

Are there any risks associated with lymphatic drainage massage?

Lymphatic drainage massage is generally safe for most people. However, using improper techniques can cause discomfort, especially if you have sensitive skin, or just not do much for your swelling.

There are also a few health conditions that require caution. If you have congestive heart failure, deep vein thrombosis, acute infections, or active cancer, you may need to avoid or modify lymphatic drainage massage. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before starting, especially if you have any pre-existing health concerns.

Learn more about when to avoid lymphatic drainage massage.

What else can I do to manage lymphedema symptoms better?

Lymphatic drainage massage is just one part of managing lymphedema. Compression bandages or garments, skin care, and physical activity all play important roles in your self-care routine.

Sometimes, newer treatment options like GLP-1 medications and lymphedema surgery can also help some people, but conservative therapy and self-management are the gold standard. 

Following a lymphedema-friendly diet, practicing deep breathing exercises, and staying active all support your lymphatic and circulatory systems, so they are helpful alongside lymphedema treatment, too. 

Get More Resources in Lower Body Lymphedema Rehab

Discomfort and limitations are common when you’re living with lymphedema, but they don’t have to be your normal. With the right self-care practices, you can reduce symptoms, prevent lymphedema from getting worse, and feel more confident and in control.

Lymphatic drainage massage is an important part of managing lymphedema, but you’ll get the best results when you combine it with other tools.

Unfortunately, seeing a certified lymphedema therapist in person isn’t possible for many people, whether it’s because of the cost, busy schedule, or lack of access to a provider in your area.

I created Lower Body Lymphedema Rehab to make lymphedema education and care more accessible to everyone.

This program gives you support and practical tools to minimize your limitations at a fraction of the cost of physical therapy, and you’ll learn techniques and exercises you can easily use at home.

Learn more about Lower Body Lymphedema Rehab and join!