What is Oedema Therapy or Edema Therapy ?

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Fluid accumulation

You are or will be treated by an oedema physiotherapist because you suffer from “lymphoedema” or fluid accumulation. A heavy or tired feeling in the arm or leg, a tight and tense feeling around the wrists, fingers, ankles, elbows or knees may be the result of fluid accumulation. Often, a patient is in pain. Oedema therapy can be used to treat oedema and to help limit an increase in swelling and related symptoms as much as possible. How this treatment takes place and why, the oedema physiotherapist i will always tell you.

Lymphedema

Lymphoedema is fluid accumulation caused by a malfunction in the lymphatic system. This malfunction may be congenital. However, lymphoedema usually occurs after severe damage to the lymph vessels or lymph nodes due to surgery or radiotherapy. Lymphedema starts with a feeling of tightness in the skin due to swelling of, for example, arm or leg. Lymphoedema is not only bothersome, but can also result in inflammation (“welts”) and joint pain.

Lymphatic system

The lymphatic system, which is a cleansing and immune system, is a network of lymph vessels and lymph nodes throughout the body. In total, humans have about 600m2 of lymphatic vessel tissue. Lymph vessels absorb tissue fluid containing dissolved, proteins, waste products and harmful particles that cannot be absorbed into the bloodstream. The harmful particles and waste products are destroyed in the lymph nodes. Especially in the groin, armpits and neck, there are many lymph nodes that act as filters.

Treatment

The treatment of lymphoedema consists of oedema therapy that includes the following components: manual lumbar drainage, oedema and fibrosis grips, compression therapy and movement and breathing exercises.  Depending on the severity and cause of the oedema, treatment may be more intensive during the initial phase. This means, you will visit the oedema physiotherapist 3-5 times a week in the beginning. The duration of overall treatment depends on a number of factors and varies from person to person. To determine the progress of treatment, the extent of the oedema is measured regularly. At the end of the treatment period, the oedema physiotherapist often recommends a therapeutic-elastic stocking to maintain the results obtained.

Manual lymph drainage

Manual lymph drainage is a technique in which the oedema physiotherapist attempts, through a gentle pumping motion, to stimulate fluid absorption by the lymphatic vessels and promote the functioning of good vessels. This technique is aimed at supporting the absorption and drainage of tissue fluid. 

Oedema and fibrosis handles

Oedema and fibrosis handles are special handles that the oedema physiotherapist applies to certain lymphoedema grades. Oedema handles allow lymph fluid to be directed through the tissue to a place where it is more easily absorbed. Fibrosis grabs can be used to make hardened tissue (“fibrosis”) more flexible.

Ambulatory compression therapy

This therapy is a combination of bandaging and exercise. To maintain the effect of treatment, limbs are bandaged. In combination with compression therapy, it is very important to do movement exercises. If the oedema does not decrease further over time, the oedema physiotherapist will recommend a therapeutic-elastic stocking.

Movement and breathing exercises

The oedema physiotherapist will teach you specific movement and breathing exercises that promote the drainage of lymph fluid. You can further stimulate this process by doing the exercises yourself at home. This is because movement stimulates the lymph vessels, draining excess fluid. Sufficient exercise is therefore important, but be careful to avoid overexerting the body.

Reimbursement

Many health insurers reimburse oedema therapy from the “Supplementary Insurance.” We advise you to check with your health insurer whether this also applies to you and, if so, the amount of reimbursement.

Fascia Release Therapy

What is fascia?

Fascia is connective tissue that surrounds and connects different structures in the body, including muscles, tendons and joints.

Scar tissue

After surgery, injury or other tissue damage, scar tissue may develop. This can locally cause changes in sensation, tension or reduced mobility of the skin and surrounding tissues.

Fascia Release Techniques

At our practice, manual techniques may be used with the aim of improving the mobility of scar tissue and the surrounding connective tissue.

Before treatment, the physiotherapist will assess whether this treatment is appropriate for your symptoms and individual needs.

Tensegrity

Tensegrity is a contraction of tension and structural integrity. It refers to the integrity of structures based on a balance between tensile and pressure loads. The tensile and compressive forces are absorbed by the flexibility of the structures. With this all structures mentioned under the name “Fascia” in the body work together and from here the body is therefore 1 whole. This is structured from the embryo.

Examples of a Tensegrity model (from which our body is ultimately built)

Scar Tissue

In the case of a scar, flexibility is lost within a part of the fascia. This has an effect on the total system within the body, because subsequently a reduced flexibility and thus a reduced load-bearing capacity of the chain is created. This way an arthrokinematic problem (bones, tendons, muscles, ligaments) can arise, but also a lymph problem, since the lymphatic system is directly under the skin, this causes fluid accumulations.

Our Fascia Release Technics:

Manual scar treatment: we are trained in a specific treatment method in which the fascial layers, which no longer have flexibility and negatively influence other parts of the chain, can be released with our hands.

Cranio-Sacral Therapy IAO ( International Acadamy of Osteopathy ).

What is Cranio Sacral Therapy?

Cranio Sacral Therapy is a gentle manual treatment method in which the therapist uses light touch and manual techniques around areas including the skull, spine and sacrum.

At our practice, Cranio Sacral Therapy is used as an additional body-oriented treatment method.

The treatment may focus on relaxation, body awareness and reducing perceived tension.

Before treatment, the physiotherapist will discuss your symptoms and individual needs and assess which treatment may be appropriate.

Cranio Sacral Therapy is not a substitute for necessary medical diagnosis or treatment. If your symptoms require further medical assessment, we advise you to contact your GP or medical specialist.

The effects of treatment may vary from person to person.

Fysiotherapie in Den Haag Centrum Buurtschap 2005

Physiotherapy The Hague Centre