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VideotechniqueUT MD Anderson Cancer CenterDraft

Lymphedema management: Manual lymph drainage for lower extremities

A cancer centre patient-education video walks through self-applied manual lymph drainage for the leg, step by step with on-screen chapters. It clears the neck, armpit, chest and lower abdomen and uses deep breathing first, then works the thigh, knee, calf and foot with slow skin-stretching strokes directed back towards the trunk.

Lymphedema management: Manual lymph drainage for lower extremities · UT MD Anderson Cancer Center · YouTube

Video: Lymphedema management: Manual lymph drainage for lower extremities, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU_os8ApUH0

Length8:21
RatingClarity 5/5 · Credibility 5/5 · Relevance 3/5
Major cancer centre patient-education video. Self-drainage for the leg, not a therapist working on a client.
Coverstechniques/lymphatic-drainage-intro
Watchhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU_os8ApUH0

Chapters

  1. 0:00 Lymphedema Management
  2. 0:51 Neck
  3. 1:33 Armpit
  4. 1:55 Chest
  5. 2:30 Lower abdomen
  6. 3:02 Deep breathing
  7. 3:44 Thigh
  8. 4:50 Behind the knee
  9. 5:07 Calf
  10. 5:57 Heel cord
  11. 6:21 Foot
  12. 6:40 Toes
  13. 7:52 Back

Key points

  • Manual lymph drainage differs from classic massage - use no oil or lotion and work on bare skin.
  • Use only enough pressure to stretch the skin without sliding; it should never hurt or leave redness.
  • Strokes are slow and repeated, about one every two seconds.
  • Clear the areas nearer the trunk first, then work outwards along the limb.
  • Each stroke stretches the skin towards the draining nodes and then fully releases.

Cautions

  • Designed for patients with lymphoedema under a therapist’s guidance. Working with lymphoedema is beyond Cert IV scope; refer on.