Immediate effects of manual lymphatic drainage in healthy women

Abstract

Background: Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a technique widely used in clinical practice to favor the absorption and transport of
interstitial fluid and macromolecules through the lymphatic system. Usually, MLD is indicated as a way of treating edema and
lymphedema of different etiologies. Objective: Analyze the immediate effects of manual lymphatic drainage on the volume and
sensation of the lower limbs of healthy women. Methods: The sample consisted of 40 healthy women aged between 18 and 44 years,
sedentary and with body mass index between 18,5 - 29,9 Kg/m2
. They were bilaterally submitted to a single MLD session on the lower
limbs. The evaluation of the volume of the lower limbs was made by perimetry and the sensation in the lower limbs was determined
through a questionnaire prepared by the authors of this study. Results: It was observed that there was no statistically significant
difference in the perimetry of the lower limbs (p ≥ 0.05), however a decrease was reported in the “sensation of weight” in the lower limbs
and in the “tiredness to walk”. Conclusion: Manual lymphatic drainage did not decrease the volume, but it did improve the feeling of
heaviness and tiredness to walk providing a feeling of lightness in the lower limbs