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Specialty Spotlight
Decongestive Therapy for Lymphedema
Rehabilitation Center > Outpatient Rehab > Decongestive Therapy For Lymphedema
Lymphedema is a debilitating condition that causes swelling of a body part, most often in the arms or legs. It is the result of an accumulation of protein-rich fluid in the tissues, and once it has begun, it will continue to worsen if not treated. 50-70% of women who undergo treatment for breast cancer develop Lymphedema. While the use of diuretics to reduce swelling and several surgical procedures sometimes are used to retard the progression of the disease, none consistently prove to be effective.
Now there is an effective treatment that can substantially control the progression Lymphedema without drugs or surgery. Outpatient Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine, a service of Delta Regional Medical Center, offers a comprehensive therapy program, called Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT), that is changing the lives of patients who undergo its regimen.
How the Therapy Program works:
- The first component of the CDT program is called Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD), a gentle technique that increases the activity of the lymph vessels and manually moves built-up fluid to decrease swelling in the effected part of the body.
- The second component of the program is Compression Therapy. It involves the use of special short-stretch bandages to prevent the re-accumulation of lymph fluid.
- Finally, the last component of the CDT regimen stresses the importance of skin care. The skin in Lymphedema affected areas is very susceptible to infections.