Lymphoedema Management - Massage and Float Bondi Junction

Decongestive Lymphatic Therapy (DLT) or Complex Physical Therapy is considered the gold standard for lymphoedema management as a non-invasive treatment for lymphoedema performed by a certified lymphoedema therapist. DLT reduces lymphoedema, increases mobility and range of motion, decreases the risk of cellulitis and ultimately provides a better quality of life. DLT is effective because it combines multiple approaches to maximize overall patient improvement.

What is Lymphoedema Management?

Effectively managing lymphoedema involves a holistic, multidisciplinary approach that includes the following components:

Addressing skin care to manage complications arising from lymphoedema and reduce the risk of cellulitis.
Pain management with swelling reduction is achieved through a combination of two-layer or multi-layer bandages (depending on the severity of lymphoedema) and/or with a compression garments prescription aimed to reduce limb size/volume.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage aims to reduce swelling by promoting lymph flow, draining fluid accumulation to the correct pathway and improving scar tissue.
Decongestive exercises/movements to enhance lymphatic and venous flow.
Risk reduction through patient education and advice to empower long-term self-management.
Devices used as part of the treatment include a pneumatic compression pump to help drain the fluid and low laser therapy to reduce limb volume and tissue hardness.

Benefits of Lymphoedema Management

The goal of lymphoedema therapy is to restore function, reduce physical and psychological suffering, prevent the development of infection and manage swelling and pain. Successful patient outcomes are much easier to achieve if treatment commences as soon as there are signs of swelling.

What Happens During the Treatment?

Before commencing treatment our trained lymphoedema therapist will gain a full understanding of your medical history and possible cause of the swelling or pain. Our lymphoedema practitioner starts to diagnose the lymphoedema stage (i.e. upper limb, lower limb, head & neck or breast) by measuring the affected area’s size and then customising a treatment plan based on your individual needs. Treatment will start at the same session with compression therapy by using two-layer bandages or multi-layer bandages (depending on the degree of lymphoedema) and compression garments if needed. Manual lymphatic drainage massage (twice a week) is a mandatory stage in lymphoedema management.

Treatment is specific to a lymphoedema area of the body to manage the swelling and pain. Our lymphoedema practitioner will sometimes need to see a patient every day to change the compression bandages for 3-4 weeks (depending on the severity of lymphoedema). Your trained lymphoedema therapist will check on comfort and pressure throughout the session for compression bandages and lymphatic drainage massage.

Lymphoedema management has two phases 1) a treatment course of up to 4 weeks for reduction and 2) maintaining and continuing the reduction by continuing with compression, exercises and skin care.