How can lymphedema therapy help you?

The swelling and discomfort of lymphedema can make anyone’s life more difficult. Depending on which limb or limbs are affected, you could have trouble walking. You may also have difficulty moving your arms to get dressed or to do other normal activities. Fortunately, physical therapists offer therapy that can help treat lymphedema. 

What is lymphedema therapy?

Lymphedema is a condition that causes fluid buildup that leads to swelling in the affected area. This condition affects 1 in every 1,000 Americans, and it’s especially common in people who are overweight or who are undergoing cancer treatment. 

Lymphedema therapy is a specialized type of physical therapy. This treatment option aims to: 

• Reduce swelling in the affected area. 
• Improve range of motion. 
• Educate the patient about their condition.
• Decrease lymphedema-related pain. 

How can lymphedema therapy benefit you?

Physical therapy can offer many benefits for patients who have lymphedema, and some of these benefits include: 

1. Improving range of motion — The swelling that lymphedema causes can make moving the affected area more difficult. One study reports that a female patient with breast cancer developed lymphedema in her right arm and shoulder. This limited her range of motion. However, eight sessions of physical therapy helped to improve her: 

• Shoulder flexion by 18 degrees.
• Shoulder abduction by 20 degrees. 

2. Reducing swelling — Swelling is the most common symptom of lymphedema. It’s also a symptom that physical therapists can offer significant benefits for. Manual lymph drainage is the main technique that your physical therapist will use to address your swelling. A study of this technique reveals that it led to a nearly 15% decrease in swelling after six weeks of treatment. 

3. Long-term symptoms decrease — Physical therapists aim to reduce lymphedema symptoms in both the short and the long term. One medical study found that physical therapy helped control lymphedema symptoms in the long term. 

The study reports that lymphedema therapy helped reduce symptoms by more than 59% in the upper extremities initially. It also initially helped decrease symptoms by about 68% in the lower extremities. In addition, patients who continued to follow their physical therapist’s recommendations had maintained 90% of their initial symptom improvements nine months after their final treatment. 

Advent PT offers effective treatment for lymphedema

Looking for effective lymphedema therapy? Our specialists at Advent Physical Therapy can help you address the symptoms of lymphedema. We can do a free screening of the affected area to confirm that you have lymphedema. Then, our physical therapists can create a unique therapy plan to fit your specific needs. You can even get help from our team at home by signing up for an at-home care or virtual therapy session with us. 

Contact our team today for more information about our treatment options for lymphedema or to schedule an initial appointment.