There are many different reasons to go for massage therapy, whether you just want to indulge in some self-care, whether you have a sports injury of some kind or whether you’re just feeling a little stiff and sore.
Massage can help restore movement and mobility, ease any pain you’re in, help the body flush out toxins, ease muscle tension, improve circulation, reduce swelling, improve sleep and even support your immune system functions… so it’s certainly worth considering it as part of your general approach to health and wellbeing.
Lymphatic drainage is another key benefit of massage therapy, but perhaps one of the less well known ones… so here are a few frequently asked questions about this that could help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
1. What is lymphatic drainage?
Lymphedema is a chronic condition that causes swelling because of lymph fluid buildup in tissues in the arms and legs, a common side-effect of many different health conditions, as well as being common among those recovering from cancer treatments.
Lymphatic drainage massage is a gentle form of therapy that can help relieve inflammation by moving lymph from your tissues to your lymph nodes, which reduces the associated swelling.
2. How do I know if I need lymphatic drainage?
Signs that lymphatic drainage could be beneficial include bloating, fatigue, headaches, brain fog, chronic sinus infections, swollen lymph nodes in your neck and puffy, swollen hands or ankles.
3. How does lymphatic massage work?
This form of manual therapy stimulates the lymphatic system through a range of different rhythmic movements and light pressure, which moves lymph fluid throughout the body, flushing out waste and toxins to improve general health and wellbeing.
4. What to expect from lymphatic drainage massage
Typically, you’ll lie on your back and your qualified massage therapist will start to apply gentle pressure in slow rhythmic motions around the lymph nodes in your neck and head. From there, they move to whichever part of your body needs attention, with different manual techniques applied.
