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Manual lymphatic drainage for chronic post-mastectomy lymphoedema treatment
E Fiaschi1, G Francesconi, S Fiumicelli
1Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Unit S. Chiara Hospital, Pisa University, Italy.
Background:
The authors evaluated the chronic post-mastectomy lymphoedematous tissue and the effects of manual lymphatic drainage (Leduc method) with and without compressive bandage.
Methods:
The arms were measured before and after physical therapy and the results were expressed as a percentage decrease. Physical therapy was performed first by manual lymphatic drainage only and after by manual lymphatic drainage plus compressive bandage.
Results:
We observed that during manual lymphatic drainage plus compressive bandage the total percentage decrease of whole limb was the highest: 41.1 +/- 12.2% versus 30.4 +/- 15.8% (p < 0.05). Clinical and physiopathological implication are discussed.