
Manual lymphatic drainage is a massage technique that removes lymph congestion in the tissue. The physiotherapist or masseur, who is trained in lymph drainage, uses specific hand movements and may bandage the area to promote the removal of lymph.
Lymph is a light yellowish, aqueous liquid that is present almost everywhere in the body in the lymphatic vessels. It serves the removal of nutrients and waste from and to the cells. In addition, it serves as a defense to the immune system, because the lymph liquid transports bacteria and other pathogens to the lymph nodes, where they are disposed of.
Important transport system
Beside blood circulation, the lymphatic system is the most important transport system of the body. For comparison: While 3.5 to 5 liters of blood flow through the veins of an adult, between 6 and 10 liters of lymph circulate in the lymphatic vessels.
Women in particular suffer from severely swollen legs due to so-called primary lymphedema. This is a congenital malformation of the lymphatic system (too few, too narrow or too wide lymph vessels), these however, usually do not occur until adulthood.
More frequently occurring is secondary lymphedema, which is caused by injuries or operations. As a result, the fluid can no longer flow smoothly in the intercellular spaces and a swelling forms. For example: if you twist the foot while walking or jogging, the ligaments in the ankle may be overstretched or even torn. This is doubly painful, because the injury triggers not only direct pain but also bruising and lymphoedema, which in turn produces a painful feeling of tension. The injured area can swell so much that the foot can hardly be moved, slowing down the healing process.
Stimulation must be repeated regularly
In cases like these, lymphatic drainage helps. The therapist massages the skin and subcutaneous fatty tissue with varied pressure. The lymphatic vessels are stimulated with rhythmic, circular or pumping movements, thus facilitating the flow of the lymph. The treatment must be repeated regularly, depending on the severity of the injury this may be once or several times a week.
The effect of manual lymphatic drainage lasts about 24 hours. Therefore, a specialized physiotherapist or medical masseur not only assures the manual lymphatic drainage but also the bandages the area. Compression bandages are tightly wrapped around the affected arms or legs. The pressure from the bandaged area supports the removal of the lymph and thus also the reduction of lymphoedema.
Physiotherapy or massage?
Lymph drainage is offered by specially trained physiotherapists as well as by medical massage therapists.
- With medical prescription for lymphatic drainage: We recommend treatment by a physiotherapist. In this case, the treatment costs will be covered by the basic insurance.
- Without medical prescription: Book your treatment with a medical massage therapist (55 minutes 120 francs, Canton Zurich: 55 minutes 130 francs). Many health insurance companies cover part of your treatment as part of a supplementary insurance policy.
Lymph drainage / bandaging is applied during:
- lymphedema
- Postoperative swelling
- Swollen legs during pregnancy
- Swollen legs after vein surgery
- Swelling according to Mamma-Ca
- Schwellungen nach Tumoroperationen
- Open wounds
- vein complaint
Our physiotherapists

Miriam Humbel

Lorenz Hirn

Franziska Salzmann

Annina Forrer-Hauser

Jasmin Caprio

Sara Boven

Caroline Rabago

Nils Hercher

Severine Stuber

Carmen Gempp

Stefanie Germann

Swende Krämer

Martina Mächler

Jan Peters

Riccarda Klemm

Henk Hoeke

Karin Marchetti

Laura Palumbo

Stephanie Gass

Gabriela Grams

Sabrina Lang

Gudrun Schaar

Sonja Isenrich

Rahel Oesch

Christin Raatz

Marion Rohrer

Simon Steiner

Franziska Gisiger

Larissa Bärlocher

Jan Clausen

Christina Grilnberger

Nathalie Steiner

Eric Forrer-Hauser

Anja Hinteregger

Lena Kauder

Marcel Lober

Sandro Pianzola

Florian Egenter

Benjamin Maier

David Marx

Stephanie Neff

Cornelius Rothweiler

Annika Hipp

Sabrina Ruppert

Anja Möri

Nadja Gebert

Shayne Keiser

Lea-Luisa Rathgeber

Tino Skradde

Tobias Schwank

Sandra Habegger

Maja Bischofberger

Fanny Walger-Pachlatko

Julia Pircher

Sabrina Ruiz

Nehemiah Sousa

Stefanie Dopfer

Mareike Schupp

Silvana Peier

Tim Mitterhuber

Agnès Franc

Fabienne Büchi

Nicolas Kahrmann

Julian Beks

Sandro Grob

Claudine Hiss

Stefania Maio

Timo Pehl

Wanda Uetz

Klara Schilling

Daniela Frischknecht

Miriam Walther

Monika Ehrbar

Svea Bade

Wanheab Pin

Fabienne Hofer

Lars Kristians

Florence Corti-Schibler

Ulrich Bartikowski

Sven Kamischke

Dalma Csuka

Sandro Perrenoud

Sebastian Hecker

Selina Ryter

Oliver Hornbogen

Florian Resch

Anja Luchsinger

Ladina Merian

Cyril Spörri

Maximilian Müller

Pirmin Klotzner

Corinna Laubi-Kümin

Johanna Winter

Denise Damian

Martina Zierhofer

Corina Sonder

Daniela Schläppi

Dominik Rottmann

Jens Sautter

Tabea Limberger

Tu Khanh Freimann

Jenny Kirr

Martina Alexandra Schaller

Sebastian Markowitz
