Pillar 1: Dr. Vodder’s Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD)
The Dr. Vodder Method of Manual Lymph Drainage or Lymphatic Massage is successfully applied at our Center. This special massage technique uses circular and spiral shaped movements. The strokes involve gentle skin-to-skin contact resulting in the skin being moved over the underlying tissue: the Dr. Vodder Method of MLD works with the skin and not on the skin.
It increases and decreases pressure, this change in pressure creating the necessary pumping effect. The direction of the increase of pressure lies in the direction of the lymph flow.
The technique is generally applied to dry skin. If the skin does not move in certain areas (e.g. due to scars, ulcer margins, firm edemas), or if the skin is very dry or rough, some oil may be applied.
Pain-free therapy with Dr. Vodder’s Lymph Drainage
These special strokes will not cause redness of the skin, nor will they cause pain. The speed at which strokes follow on one another is determined by the maximum frequency of lymphangiomotoricity, i.e. the rate of contraction used by the lymphangion to transport the lymph fluid.
The Dr. Vodder technique always begins with treating the lymph nodes and lymph vessels found at the neck and the junction of the large lymph channels in the venous arch on both sides of the body.
For MLD to be effective, use of the proper specialist technique and adaptation of the length of individual therapy sessions to meet the needs of the pathology concerned are essential. A typical MLD session requires 30 to 45 minutes, but may be extended to 90 minutes depending on the indication.