Manual lymphatic drainage for chronic post-mastectomy lymphoedema treatment.

BACKGROUND: The authors evaluated the chronic post-mastectomy lymphoedematous tissue and the effects of manual lymphatic drainage (Leduc method) with and without compressive bandage. METHODS: The arms were measured before and after physical therapy and the results were expressed as a percentage decrease. Physical therapy was performed first by manual lymphatic drainage only and after by manual lymphatic drainage plus compressive bandage. RESULTS: We observed that during manual lymphatic drainage plus compressive bandage the total percentage decrease of whole limb was the highest: 41.1 +/- 12.2% versus 30.4 +/- 15.8% (p < 0.05). Clinical and physiopathological implication are discussed.