What is lymphedema therapy?
Lymphedema is swelling that occurs when lymph (fluid that contains nutrients, white blood cells, and other substances) builds up in the body. Swelling happens when lymph vessels, which move lymph, become blocked or when there is damage to/removal of lymph nodes. Lymphedema therapy alleviates the feeling of heaviness, swollen body parts, and discomfort, and reduces the risk of infection (cellulitis and lymphangitis).
Who can benefit and how?
Anyone with blocked or damaged/removed lymph nodes - whether from cancer treatment, infection, scarring or surgery - can benefit from lymphedema therapy. Therapy promotes the flow of lymph throughout the body and reduce swelling.
Why Sentara?
Our certified therapists have advanced training in lymphedema care. We use combined or complex decongestive therapy (CDT), a recognized treatment strategy for managing lymphedema. Also, in our facilities offering aquatic therapy this treatment is combined with pool exercises to further help you manage your lymphedema.
Service and treatments
We teach you how to manage your lymphedema through hands on techniques, compression (use of wraps, garments and/or pump), and exercise to prevent symptom progression and improve your function.
We use a massage technique called manual lymph drainage (MLD) to help lymph vessels function better. During MLD, we stretch the skin lightly to help keep lymph moving around blocked areas so that vessels can drain.
The number of therapy sessions you have depends on your body's tissues and level of swelling. At your first appointment you and your therapist will determine the frequency that is best for you.
After MLD sessions, our specialists apply bandages that increase pressure on affected tissues. This pressure helps prevent lymph from moving back into an area of the body that is clear.
We also recommend that you wear compression garments, such as stockings or sleeves, after fluid has drained. Wearing these garments helps keep pressure on the tissue to prevent fluid from building up again.
Our therapists design specific exercises to get you moving and help reduce swelling in your body. You may wear compression bandages while doing these exercises to assist with draining fluid.
Find a location
- Cox Rehabilitation Center
- Sentara Therapy Center - Albemarle Family YMCA
- Sentara Therapy Center - Blocker YMCA
- Sentara Therapy Center - Coliseum
- Sentara Therapy Center - Dumfries
- Sentara Therapy Center - Edinburgh
- Sentara Therapy Center - Gloucester
- Sentara Therapy Center - Granby
- Sentara Therapy Center - Lynnhaven
- Sentara Therapy Center - Mathews
- Sentara Therapy Center - Port Warwick
- Sentara Therapy Center - Reid's Prospect
- Sentara Therapy Center - Cancer Rehab
- Sentara Therapy Center - Suffolk YMCA
- Sentara Primary Care & Therapy Center - Town Center
- Sentara Therapy Center - Treyburn
- Sentara Therapy Center - Williamsburg
- Sentara Therapy Center - Yorktown