What is lymphatic drainage therapy?
Your lymphatic system is crucial in the performance of your immune system. It also supports detox of toxins and inflammation within our bodies. Traditionally, when people hear the words “lymph” or “lymphatic” they think of swollen lymph nodes in their neck when they’re sick or those internet pictures of swollen legs in the case of people diagnosed with lymphedema. While those things are valid, they are not the focus when it comes to Tribu Physical Therapy and Lymphatic Drainage Therapy (LDT).
A lymphatic flush session is a total body LDT treatment that’s perfect for flushing out metabolites that build up in your system after intense training cycles, help you recover from a strenuous workout or event, as [prehab] to an orthopedic surgery that can reduce your post-op pain and swelling, or after surgery to support your body’s natural healing response.
BACKGROUND
Dr. Mary is trained in advanced LDT techniques under The Chikly Institute and is the only physical therapist in the area offering it specifically for performance and recovery of runners. To understand it, let’s give you a basic understanding of the anatomy of the lymphatic system.
Lymphatic System:
lymphatic vessels
lymphatic fluid
lymph nodes
Think of the vessels as a vast network roads and side streets - a transportation highway all over your body. Imagine a network similar to your blood circulatory system. These are one-way roads from your arms, legs, and abdomen that ultimately lead towards your heart and will start blending with your circulatory system.
The lymphatic fluid circulates within these vessels like cars on a road traveling to different destinations. Some of these cars are making deliveries (nutrients, hormones, water, etc), some picking up waste products, and some are emergency responders for when you’re sick or injured. The lymphatic vessels transport the lymphatic fluid to lymph nodes.
The lymph nodes are sorting and production centers. There are main groups of nodes that live in various parts of your body. They 1) sort through the fluid, filter & purify it, and break down toxins and 2) produce lymphocytes which are immune system cells AKA white blood cells. When lymphatic circulation is increased, more white blood cells are produced. The cool thing is that through LDT techniques, we can stimulate these processes! How?
LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE TECHNIQUE
It is a massage technique to stimulate your lymphatic system. Since at least 70% of the lymphatic vessels are superficial (just below your skin), it requires only light pressure. It will feel like your provider is barely doing much, but I promise it is very powerful! Someone trained in LDT can feel where you might have lymphatic congestion and help break up your “traffic jams” so your fluid can continue circulating efficiently. There are also techniques to access the deeper layers of your lymphatic system and this pressure can feel a little heavier. It can be performed directly on the skin or through clothing, although direct contact with skin is ideal for better activation of your lymphatic system.
Because of those one-way roads, you need someone who understands the pathways. Who has a deep understanding of the road infrastructure to navigate the whole lymphatic system. When you visit a new city, who would you rather ask directions from - a local or a tourist? Same thing with LDT. LDT applied in the proper ways can leave you feeling lighter, more relaxed, and ready to take on your next workout.
RUNNING RECOVERY & PERFORMANCE
The real magic to performing better happens during our recovery periods. In addition to supporting our recovery process by:
flushing out toxins and metabolic waste from training
reducing swelling/inflammation
The lymphatic system also has strong ties with our nervous system - the parasympathetic nervous system to be exact. That’s the part that encourages our “rest and digest” cycle instead of the “fight or flight” so many of us experience in this modern world of ours.
Folks who have had an LDT session tend to experience a better night’s sleep and reduced feelings of stress. Since sleep is when a lot of repair happens, anything an athlete can do to improve their sleep further supports their body’s natural recovery processes!
If you’re ready to learn more about how LDT may benefit your performance, you can schedule a free phone call with Dr. Mary or send a message via the Contact page!
