connective tissue
Read expert articles, clinical research, and training insights on connective tissue from Moving Lymph.
Is it really fibrosis? Or is it thixotropic tissue change?
I had an email recently from a therapist who described her client as having deep pitting oedema and heavy fibrosis. Technically this is not possible. If the tissue is truly fibrotic then it really doesn't pit much any more. But in many ways they look and feel the same. So what is the difference and how can you tell ...
Body contours, swollen lymph nodes and dehydration, 3 facts about the lymph system you may not know.
Why do the tendons stand out on the back of your hand? What makes lymph nodes swell during an infection? How does being dehydrated increase nocturnal micturation?
Critical appraisal skills - the missing link for Therapists
The demand for level 1 studies is largely driven by academic needs, rather than tangible, clinically relevant outcomes.
Applied MLD, more than just lymphoedema
Dr Vodder's Applied MLD can effectively treat many of the common co-morbidities that impact on lymphoedema treatment. Using safe, pain free methods to address musculoskeletal issues, autoimmune diseases, digestive and respiratory issues can reduce overall inflammation, increase mobility and contribute to better outcomes in Lymphoedema reduction and management.
Stretching helps resolve acute inflammation and reduce pain.
Gentle stretching forces help resolve acute inflammation, and reduce pain and immune cell infiltrate. This has implications for those of us
Another disappointing SR that fails to tell us anything new 😖
Systematic reviews are an academic exercise to ‘systemically review’ the existing literature on a particular research question. They are ...
The lymphatic system does not 'de-toxify' your body
there is no such thing as a lymph gland, the parasympathetic nervous system can be directly simulated by MLD & MLD does not remove fat cells
Revival of the World's Best Kept Beauty Secret
MLD helps to minimize bruising and hematoma formation and reduce pain and discomfort associated with plastic or cosmetic surgery. By quickly
Frozen shoulder - pain free in two treatments with Applied MLD.
Adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder, is a condition characterized by pain and restricted range of motion at the shoulder joint. The cause is often unknown and can take longer than a year to resolve. The client's reduction in pain and increased range of motion following just two 1-hour sessions of MLD treatment is encouraging and suggests that MLD could be a useful treatment option for this condition.
The complex interactions that control lymph flow, and how Dr Vodder's MLD exploits them
A variety of intrinsic and extrinsic forces act in a co-ordinated way to maintain a constant lymph flow. New insights into how specific factors may be at play in different tissues and body regions, provides a neat connection to how MLD is applied, and the pronounced effect we see on lymph flow as a result.
Lymph Taping update - the debate on replacing #compression with #lymphtaping continues
Could the inclusion of waving equidistant tapes over a large area of unaffected skin account for the better results observed during taping?
The Crucial Role of Mechanical Forces in Wound Healing and Scar Minimisation
Understanding and mitigating excess scar formation is of paramount importance in allied health care, and MLD and Elastic Taping are two of the most effective modalities in your scar management tool box.
My 10 favourite facts about MLD
explain the scientific basis of the effects of MLD, the specific tissue or system effects achieved by individual techniques, and the expecte
Lymphatic endothelial cells, so much more to know!
The study looked at how the lymphatic endothelia cells behave when there is tissue hypoxia, so there are three interesting things here. How
Why MLD should be started as early as possible.
There's nothing quite so satisfying as reading a well written paper which summarises everything interesting that we know about the lymph system. In this regard, the recent paper by Weber et al (1) is a good read for anyone fascinated by lymphatics, regardless of academic ability. Personally I can't help but make connections with the descriptions given, and what I know about lymphatic physiology and the effects of MLD. It's also very affirming when new understandings in lymphology, support the b
How can Vodder's MLD resolve trigger points without pain?
People are often surprised when I start talking about #MLD to resolve trigger points, or treat conditions like #adhesive_capsulitis and #piriformis_syndrome. This article describes how #Vodders #MLD resolves #trigger_points, #joint_stiffness and #myofascial_pain.
Inflammation and fibrosis in lymphoedema. What's really going on and does MLD help?
While there are multiple studies showing that MLD & CDT reduce the symptoms of inflammation and can reverse some fibrotic changes, there is
How do new discoveries in lymphology influence our clinical practice?
Across two decades of teaching therapists how to interact with lymphatics through MLD and Lymph Taping, I have witnessed an explosion in research on lymphatic function and disease.Some observed truths have been completely reversed,like the advice around exercise for people affected by lymphedema. Once it was shown that any post-exercise swelling is temporary, and that overall people who exercise have better lymphedema outcomes than those who don't, our advice did a big 180 turn from don’t overlo
Does MLD make you sick?
A long time ago I made the mistake of watching some YouTube videos purporting to teach Dr Vodder's MLD and was quite disturbed by the number of chats insisting that you should feel nauseous or ill somehow after lymph drainage. There was even an insistence in some comments that it hasn't worked unless you feel dreadful. This is the exact opposite of what I have learned and observed in nearly 25 years of performing MLD. If you are receiving Dr Vodder's MLD you should not have headache or nausea
MLD for Pain and Stress
When I teach MLD we talk a lot about the way the body responds to stress. We're all familiar with the symptoms, sweaty palms, knotted stomac
A Pressing Matter: What is the Right Pressure in Lymphatic Massage?
The reality is that effective lymphoedema management demands an individualised approach. One that takes into consideration the progressive nature of lymphoedema, and delivers a nuanced application of MLD appropriate to the presentation, and a tailored self-care program designed to deliver optimal outcomes for the investment made in time, effort, and family resources that lymphoedema inevitably requires.
AromaticaLymphatica: A Synergistic Blending of Ancient Remedies and Modern Lymphology.
"AromaticaLymphatica" is the modern synthesis of ancient aromatic arts, with advances in lymphology, to maximise the synergistic potential and create next level Lymphatic Therapy.
Elastic Taping; A Non-Drug Therapy with Potential to Prevent Chronic Post-Op Neuropathic Pain.
Discover how elastic taping techniques offer promising, drug-free relief for post-surgical pain and may help prevent chronic neuropathic complications. Explore evidence-based non-pharmacological pain management strategies, including Kinesio taping, for better post-op recovery and long-term outcomes.
Using Guided Meditation to Embody Lymphatic Anatomy and Improve Clinical Clarity.
For students of lymphatic therapies, mapping the vessel pathways can feel like navigating a shapeshifting landscape. Guided meditation focuses on inner sensation and perception to assimilate two dimensional, text-based descriptions, and internalise the lymph vessels and pathways using you own body as a reference map. Research shows these exercises do more than aid learning, they can reduce study-related stress and lead to increased clinical confidence and observation skills.
Pain, Itch, and Inflammation; Why You Want to Scratch that Healing Scar
It's natural for us to touch, hug and stroke those we love. These caring actions don't just maintain our social networks, they are rooted in biological processes which ensure the skin remains healthy, and that immune reactions favour would healing and tissue repair. Recent research has illuminated the role of itch in the context of immune function, lymph formation, wound healing, and connective tissue homeostasis
Revised Starling Equilibrium and the Endothelial Glycocalyx: Why Are We Still Getting This Wrong?
Groundbreaking evidence that changed our fundamental understanding of fluid dynamics at the capillary was published in 1999 (1), However, the 'old' model, where most interstitial fluid was thought to be resorbed at the venous end of the capillary, is still being taught in most lymphatic programs, and even Chat GPT gets it wrong! This post reviews the Starling Equilibrium and the Endothelial Glycocalyx and highlights the importance of understanding fluid dynamics in lymphedema management.
MLD vs Pressure Massage: Which One When?
Compare the physiological differences between MLD vs pressure massage. Learn how the body responds to each can inform clinical choices and understanding the mechanism that make MLD the treatment of choice in acute or chronic oedema, recovery, and chronic pain.
Why Lymph Flow Matters: Human Skin Lymphatics, Tissue Health, and the Power of MLD
Explore the cellular science behind MLD. Learn how human dermal lymphatics differ from mouse models and how manual therapy reverses tissue hypoxia and ECM fibrosis.
Can Targeted MLD Maximise Surgical Outcomes after Liposuction and LVA?
Discover how combining targeted MLD with advanced surgeries like LVA and liposuction for lymphoedema and lipoedema, can transform outcomes in post-surgical rehabilitation.
Continue with Google
