Arthritis can be described as the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. Arthritis symptoms and types Symptoms include: joint pain stiffness reduce Range of Motion (ROM) Major Types: Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid-Arthritis Said so, Arthritis can be a consequence of another type of disease, like: Ankylosing spondylitis Gout Juvenile idiopathic Psoriatic A. Reactive A. Septic A. Thumb A. Those types of Arthritis manifest in different body areas and can display simultaneously. Symptoms can worsen with the ageing process. What is Osteoarthritis, and what causes it? We refer to osteoarthritis when the cartilage between the bonds that form a joint does wear out. Cartilage is a hard, slippery tissue that sits between 2 bonds, like the knee cap and femur, or between the bond of your fingers and toes. When this protective layer that keeps the two bonds separate does work out, the joint starts swelling due to an inflammatory process, and pain is consequently reproduced. The cause can be joint overloading due to chronic injuries or imbalance within the musculoskeletal system. For example, wearing high heels, or having a high foot arch, can lead to wear in the cartilage of the big toes. There is no cure for this type of arthritis, and pain management, through manual therapy and or medications is what so far can be done. What is Rheumatoid Arthritis, and what causes it? Rheumatoid A. is a disease type where the immune system attacks the joints. For rheumatoid arthritis, there are fewer known reasons why it can happen, but there are some factors that can play a role, such as: Family history Gender Obesity Joint injury Age Diagnoses To diagnose arthritis, you would have to see your GP and go for further investigations such as an X-ray, blood test or other medical investigations process. Massage and Treatment for Arthritis. For this type of condition, massage can be a useful therapeutic tool to reduce the pain sensation and manage the presentation. No massage technique can cure the presentation itself, but techniques like MLD are probably the most effective in pain management and symptom relief. Thanks to the direct stimulation of the Lymphatic System, MLD can inhibit the pain signal and relieve the person. As arthritis is often present in older people, we must check for any other condition or presentation that is an absolute contraindication to this type of treatment before commencing treatment. If this post is talking to you, and you need a massage, book your next session by clicking here.
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Oct
Joint mobilisations are manual therapy techniques that improve joint mobility and flexibility and reduce joint pain. Joint mobilisation can be applied to many body joints. Some contraindications have to be taken into consideration for mobilisation: Joint swelling Osteo Arthritis Bone Fracture Bulge disk (if the mobs are intended on a vertebra) Mobilisation VS Adjustment. Mobilisations are different from Chiropractic adjustment. The difference is that Chiropractic adjustments are fast movements applied with more significant pressure. Mobilisations are constant slow, repetitive movements applied to the joint. Along with a Myotherapy treatment, Giovanni would evaluate if mobilisation is the proper treatment for your condition. For example, mobilisation along the spine is recommended when someone presents with a stiff back in the sacrum, lumbar, thoracic or lower cervical area. Giovanni would always double-check with you about what the mobs felt like. Types of Mobilisation. As we already know, the body is made of different types of joints. Given the different types of joints, like socket joints, plane joints and more, others are the type of mobilisation. For example: For a joint like the hip, we can apply mobility like a distraction, anterior-to-posterior pressure or posterior-to-anterior pull, internal rotation or superior-to-inferior pull. Some of these techniques can be applied to other joints, and each way of using a mobilisation aims to improve a specific range of motion. So, all up, the type of mobilisation that we have are: Superior to Inferior; Inferior to superior; Distraction; Posterior to Anterior; Anterior to Posterior; Posterior glide; Anterior glide; Lateral glide; Medial glide. Mobilisation Belt. A mobilisation belt can be used to deliver the mobilisation based on the joint we aim to work on. A belt is a tool wrapped around the designated joint we want to work on and is used to apply stretches that would not be as easy to achieve by hand. An example is a hip distraction. For distraction, we refer to it as a force that pulls a joint apart. In the case of a hip, the head of the femur is pulled away from the hip’s socket from the medial to the lateral direction. As you would imagine, using bare hands for applying this technique not only could result in an uncomfortable approach to the intimacy of the patient, but it would requireFr too much effort for the therapist, resulting in poor mobilisation delivery and risk of injury. Therefore, the best tool is a belt wrapped around the patient’s hip and the therapist’s waist. Why use the mobilisation technique? The mobilisation technique aims not to reproduce pain, cracking sound, or sharp sensation. Indeed, the aim is to reproduce a firm pressure/pull on the joint area. Regarding the thoracic area, if any of those vertebrae reproduce pain or sharp sensation, applying the mobs along the vertebrae/ribs joint would be better. Doing so would still possible to affect spine mobility indirectly. Giovanni’s training for this type of modality started during the Advance Diploma in Myotherapy at RMIT and continued at the Bachelor of Health Science at Torrens University. Mobilisations technique can be applied to Big Toe, Ankle, Shoulder, Feet, Hip, Wrist, Elbow, Vertebrae, SIJ joint, Facet Joint, Clavicle and other body areas. An example of joint mobilisation for the feet. Mobilisations at the ankle area are used for improving ankle mobility. Indeed, improving ankle mobility is to better support during the walk, standing and or running. Always talking about the feet area, the mobilisation applied to the Big Toes is used along the Metatasolphalangeal Joint. Do you feel your joints stiff? Your booking for a Myotherapy treatment with Giovanni is just a click away. This mobilisation is applied by creating a distraction movement within the joint, pulling the toes away and then using it for passive flexion and extension. As mentioned in another blog post about wearing bear foot shoes, the Big toes are meant to extend from 65° to 70°. Conclusion The Big Toes are the feet joint that should push the most in the feet strike as we walk. In conclusion, mobilisations are a great way to increase mobility within a joint allowing better movement and improving the range of motion.
Oct
A bunion is a bond malformation at the base of the big toes. The leading causes for bunion are: foot stress high foot arch wearing high heels narrow shoes A bunion is often correlated to Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is due to the cartilage degeneration that separates 2 bonds. In this case, the 2 bonds are at the base of the big toes. This result in pain at big toe extension and during walking. Bunion’s Symptoms Visible malformation, like a bump, on the side of the big toes joint; Sharp pain in the thumb; Difficulties in walking; Stiffness; The big toes point laterally towards the other toes Intervention About what to do for a bunion presentation is to get in touch with a podiatrist as soon as possible. Massage therapy is recommended too, but it is a limited tool for helping in fixing the issue. Along with Remedial Massage, Thai Massage, Myotherapy and MLD treatment, what can be done to alleviate the pain is to treat the surrounding structures, such as the plantar of the foot and the metatarsal area. So, can it alleviate bunion pain and or invert the condition? Yes, it is. Today’s blog post is called “Happy Bunion Story”. So, back in Dec. ’21, Steph start having foot pain, due to osteoarthritis. The reasons behind her conditions are: High foot arch Long hour standing up for work (she is an amazing Wedding and Fashion photographer) Wearing high heels (she used to do modelling) The combination of those resulted in a degeneration of big toes cartilage and a bunion forming. As Steph complained about pain in the big toes, I told her what possibly was happening there. Soon after, she visited her GP and got some X-Ray done, and the result was not much of a surprise. After finding out about her new condition, Steph consulted a podiatrist, who suggested starting a daily routine of exercises for her big toes. Resisted big toes flexion (with a rubber band) Wearing spacer in between the toes Toes abduction from a seated position. But this is not all. The podiatrist even told her to wear an insole in her shoes. Furthermore, she was recommended to buy specific shoes that “protect her foot”. I saw the shoes myself, and I can tell you they didn’t look good. They were thick, big, and didn’t look comfortable to wear. Another podiatrist opinion A few months passed, and I went to see Andy, a podiatrist promoting barefoot wear for my own flat feet condition. As I was talking to Andy about my feet, I couldn’t resist getting an opinion in regard to what Steph was going through. Andy, without much hesitation, suggested that she wear barefoot shoes and continue the exercises. Next, we went down to Sole Mechanic, in Hampton, a shoe shop specialising in barefoot wear. Beforehand we researched different brands and decided to give a goal to the barefoot shoes, “Vivo Barefoot”. Sole Mechanic Experience The experience at Sole Mechanic was a positive one. We booked an appointment for 2 of us, 1 hour all up, so the staff has enough time to guide you through what barefoot is about and the best option. We went through the ankle and toes Range Of Motion and barometric platform test and tried a couple of shoes each. Vivobarefoot, given its ethical approach to shoe wear, was since the start our choice, and so far, the best option we could go for. At this stage, we have a couple of shoes each from Vivo barefoot, one for everyday wear and one for hiking. Back to the “Happy Bunion Story” So, after all this time, Steph now enjoys walking pain-free. The bunion, thanks to the exercises and to Steph’s determination in practising them daily and the new shoes that have a wider shoe box, is reduced, as the Big Toe is now diverging towards the medial side (away from the other toes). Osteoarthritis is a condition that can’t be fixed. Still, when Steph occasionally feels pain we do an MLD session which can help reduce the inflammation symptoms and help in pain management. Said so, the pain is a rare thing and not a daily issue. Furthermore, Steph is not wearing the insole anymore. As suggested by the Sole Mechanic staff, removing the insole is a process that can be done step by step. So, since Feb ’22 when we bought the first pair of Vivobearfoot shoes, took her approximately 2 to 3 months to abandon the insole, and now it is about three months that she is not using it anymore. Hopefully, this post gives you some hope and insights into what’s happening with bunions. If you are in pain and need to reduce the inflammation response to the bunion, MLD may be best for you as a short-term solution. Otherwise, book an appointment with Andy to find out the best way to adjust the shape of your foot as much as possible.
Sep
Tennis elbow or even known as Lateral Epicondylitis, is a condition that occurs on the lateral side of the forearm, at the elbow’s high. A common cause is repetitive motions of the wrist and arm. Tennis Elbow refers to how common this condition can be in tennis players. Said so, Lateral Epicondylitis is a condition that can affect anyone. As per Golfer’s Elbow, the pain starts from the elbow area, in this case from the lateral side, and can irradiate down the arm to the wrist. Rest and counter medication can help relieve symptoms. In some cases, surgery is required. Tennis Elbow Symptoms The pain generated by the tennis elbow may radiate down the forearm along the lateral side (thumb side). In addition to the pain, you may experience weakness too. Here is a list of actions that may be difficult to do Shake hands or grip an object Turn a door handle Hold a cup of water Book now your next appointment to restore the mobility of your Tennis Elbow Causes Tennis Elbow As Lateral Epicondolytis is overuse and strain of muscle, it is caused by repeated contraction of the forearm muscles extensor. These repetitive stretches and movements can lead to tiny tears in the tendon tissue, creating inflammation and pain within the elbow area. Playing tennis with the pour technique often replicates this condition, especially using repeated backhand strokes. Many other common motions can cause tennis elbow. Here is an extended list: Using plumbing tools, which require strong grips Painting Using screwdrivers Food preparation, especially when the knife is not sharp Working in the office using a mouse for long hours Treatment Options At Melbourne Massage and Treatment, Giovanni offers a variety of options for treating Lateral Epicondylitis. MLD may be the most recommended per inflammation of tendons and muscles. Thanks to the light touch and repetitive movement, MLD stimulates the Lymphatic System directly, which takes care of the inflamed area. Combining Myotherapy, Remedial Massage or Thai Massage technique with MLD can help even release more tension along the arm and elbow. Tennis Elbow Exercises In addition to the massage technique offered at Melbourne Massage and Treatment, exercises placed as per usual a crucial role in recovery. Specifically, we can look in too eccentric exercises, which slow, lengthening muscle contractions. Here is a link to eccentric exercises for the Tennis Elbow. As you may notice in this video, the extension motion of the wrist is supported by the other hand. By doing so, the extensor muscle of the forearm that needs training is not working hard. So the actual strengthening happens in the wrist’s flexion when the extensor muscles are stretching under the extra pressure of the weight.
Sep
Golfer’s Elbow also known as “medial epicondylitis” is an inflammation of the tendons that originates from the medial elbow side. The pain sensation can be local or spread along the forearm till down the wrist. Indeed, Golfer’s Elbow is similar to a tennis elbow, which occurs on the lateral side of the elbow. Both these conditions are not limited to those who play golf or tennis but can affect anyone who does repetitive movement their for usually builds pain usually builds up with time and can get quite intense if the condition is not looked after. Therefore, rest, massage and specific exercises are well recommended. Golfer’s Elbow Symptoms Pain: The area of pain as described above is around the medial side of the elbow and can spread down the forearm to the wrist Stiffness: The area of inflammation controls the forearm flexors, indeed, making a fist or flexing the fingers/wrist can be difficult or painful. Even the elbow can feel stiff in movement. Weakness: Due to the pain, you may experience weakness in the affected arm/forearm Numbness or tingling: Along the medial side of the elbow, pass the Ulnar nerve, which can refer to the ring finger and pinky finger with numbness or tingling sensation. Risk factors for Golfer’s Elbow Here below is the risk factors list for Golfer’s Elbow: Age 40 or older Doing repetitive movement of wrist/elbow daily Obese If this post talks to you, book your next massage session now. Golfer’s Elbow Treatment Option The treatment options for Golfer’s Elbow are many. Along Melbourne Massage and Treatment Services, MLD can be the least invasive and recommended. The gentle touch and repetitive mechanical stimulation of the cutaneous nervous system can help reduce inflammation, stimulate relaxation, and reduce swellings in the area. Said so, as MLD can have several absolute and partial contraindications. This treatment can not be applied to all. So other services such as Myotherapy, Remedial Massage or Thai Massage are more recommended. The treatment would aim to work on the surrounding area of the inflamed tendon to improve the tone of the forearm flexors. Medications such as anti-inflammatories can also be considered for this condition, especially when rest is impossible due to work commitments. Therefore, you better talk to your GP about the medication option.
Sep
Myotherapy is a massage technique to treat or prevent soft tissue pain and restricted joint movement. “Myotherapy” stands for “Myo” Muscle “Therapy” therapy. In Australia, and specifically in Melbourne, it is a practice that took over the massage market in the last few decades and is not becoming more and more popular. There is Dry Needling and Joint Mobilization along the different techniques used in a Myotherapy treatment. Is Myotherapy Safe? Yes, Myotherapy is a safe treatment. Said so, you want to ensure that the therapist treating you has their qualification up to date. Here is a link to my qualification. What about Dry Needling in a Myotherapy Treatment? Dry needling is one of the many ways a Myotherapist can treat a client, but it is unnecessary. Before using needles, the therapist always has to double-check with the clients the following: No metal allergy No bleeding disorders No needle fear or phobia The client feels comfortable with such treatment The therapist does explain how dry needling works Is Myotherapy available at Melbourne Massage and Treatment? Yes, it is. I am a fully qualified Myotherapist who completed an Advance Diploma in Myotherapy at RMIT University. On top of all, I am now enrolled in the last year of my Bachelor’s Degree in the Myotherapy Clinic at Torrens University. What’s the difference between Myotherapy Treatment and Remedial Massage? Myotherapy is similar to a Remedial Massage session. The difference is that a Myotherapist has more knowledge about the human anatomy, joints, and functionality. So before the session, the therapist would guide the patient through a specific range of motion to evaluate the body’s presentation. Done so, the therapist has an idea of what can be done to improve the body’s presentation. Furthermore, a Myotherapist is trained to use mobilization, which is a repetitive joint movement to improve the joint’s range of motion. My favourite “mobs” are along the spine. They consist of a gentle push over the transverse process of the spine. Applying this constant firm push, the transverse process gain mobility, allowing all the muscle inserts originating from that joint to be more mobile. Is a mobilization the same as what a chiro does? No is not. The Chiro makes an adjustment, which is a fast joint pull or push, to adjust its position or functionality. Along with an adjustment, the patient has no control over the fast movement. Indeed, during mobilisation, the patient can take control of the push and stop the treatment if he/she does feel uncomfortable. Book Now your Myotherapy treatment with Giovanni. Giovanni is available in Fitzroy North at 175 Holden St Monday to Saturday 9 am to 7pm.
Sep
Preeclampsia is a condition that can affect pregnant women. Preeclampsia is a severe condition of pregnancy, most of the time characterised by: high blood pressure protein in the urine severe swelling Most women who suffer from preeclampsia are unaware of this condition, which is why continuous monitoring during pregnancy is so important. There is no cure for this condition, and the only step it can be taken to prevent the death of the mother the baby is to deliver the baby by opting for a C-section birth. What happens during preeclampsia? What does happen during preeclampsia is that the blood pressure increase to a dangerous level. The consequences can be catastrophic for both the mother and the baby. Indeed, the mother’s organs, such as the liver, kidney, heart and brain, are in great danger. The increase of protein in the urine also cand puts the kidney and liver in danger. How can MLD help with a preeclampsia presentation? In this case, MLD would not be applied to reduce preeclampsia. Still, it can be used when the baby is delivered, and there is a need to reduce the swelling postpartum that eventually would build up in the legs and abdominal area after the C-Section. On the other hand, MLD would also help scar healing by moving fluid away from the scar tissue and reducing the swelling around the scar itself. Said so, as you may already read in other blog posts about MLD, liver and kidney failure are absolute contraindications, and condition as high blood pressure too can be a partial contraindications. Indeed, before starting any treatment, the “good to go” from the doctor would be needed in this case. How would MLD be applied after the C-section? In regards to the type of approach needed in this case, the MLD session would start by: Working on the neck and terminus area Applied MLD on the abdominal area to clear off the Cisterna Chyli And finally, MLD along both leg A simple sequence would be used because a wound is still there when doing MLD on the legs. I would not recommend that the client lies in a side position, which could hurt the wound. So when should I come in for my first session? If the doctors reckon that your liver and kidney are functioning at 100% and your blood pressure has decreased since giving birth, you can start receiving MLD immediately. I already had a client, who had preeclampsia, and thanks to the suggestion of the nurses they book in their session just 10 days after the birth. After just one session, they realised how the swelling was reducing. Said so, it can take longer to reduce the swelling down to the desired level. What else can be done in combination with MLD? In combination with MLD, I am walking and staying active help. Also, lots of water is always highly recommended, especially after an MLD session. In conclusion, if you need an MLD treatment due to Preeclampsia or other body swellings, and you have no Liver or kidney conditions or DVT, MLD is the treatment that does for you. Then click here to book your next session. Or click here if you have any enquiries about MLD or Melbourne Massage and Treatment services.
Aug
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist that opens into the hand. The median nerve runs through the carpal tunnel and gives feeling to the 2nd through the 4th finger (the medial half of it). Carpal tunnel is a condition that affects any gender, and the prevalent of people affected by this condition, are people who do repetitive movements with their hands and arm. Carpal tunnel Symptoms Numbness Pins and needles in the hand Pain, particularly at night Darting pains from the wrist Radiated or referred pain in the arm and shoulder Weakness of the hand The little finger and half of the ring finger are unaffected. Causes of Carpal Tunnel Presentation Occasionally there is no clear cause for Carpal Tunnel. Said so, sometimes there is a combination of factors such as: Arthritis – C.T. is a consequence of inflammation and swelling Pregnancy – During the pregnancy period, given the increase of hormones, the body tends to retain more fluid, which can compress the median nerve and replicate CT symptoms. Genetics – some people can have smaller carpal tunnel Overuse injury – as previously mentioned, repetitive movement and overload of the wrist can lead to CT syndrome Treatment options Along with different treatment options, massage is the first non-invasive approach someone can try for carpal tunnel. As soon as the symptoms show up, it would be wise to go and see a massage therapist. Techniques such as Remedial Massage, Myotherapy can easily address the problem and alleviate the pain. Depending on the presentation and the cause of the carpobual tunnel, even Applied MLD (manual lymphatic drainage) can be an ideal treatment option. Along the physical therapy, rest is highly recommended, and exercises, as often happen, play the main role. To prevent pain from wrist movement, a splint can help. Other treatment options. Surgery is a standard alternative option for Carpal Tunnel. It is a common intervention and can be done on both hands simultaneously. The patient can choose to go for local or general anaesthesia. Surgery for Carpal Tunnel involves a cut along the palm and the wrist. The surgeon then cuts the ligament to reduce pressure on the underlying median nerve. Once the skin gets stitched back, the ligaments heal themselves, and the new scar would not put so much pressure on the median nerve. Even though the surgery is easy, it can have some complications, like swelling and damage to the median or ulnar nerve. Also, if the ligament was not cut completely, it would still apply pressure on the Median Nerve, and a second surgery would be needed.
Aug
Myofascial Dry Needling (MDN) treats sore muscles and trigger points. How does Dry Needling work? As discussed in another blog post, muscles are made of many individual fibres. As the fibre contract and stretches, this does give the muscle the ability to have strength and elasticity. Along with repetitive movements and lack of posture, the muscle fibres can accumulate tension that we generally call knots. Those “knots” are also known as trigger points. This is one of the many theories behind the formation of trigger points. Said so, a trigger point is a terminology used to describe a painful spot. And still, nowadays, there is no exact explanation for how trigger point forms and what exactly they are. But what we know for sure is that not everyone develops trigger points in the same spot. Now, to release the tension out of the trigger points, we can either apply external pressure, with the thumb or the elbow, in case of a Remedial Massage or even the knee or the heel of the foot with a Thai Massage, or we can break the fibres from within by using a needle. What a needle is like? The needles used in this practice have a diameter from 0.15 to 0.25mm, so really thin needles. Whereas the length can vary from 15mm to 90mm. Depending on the target muscle, the length of the needle is different. So, as we penetrate the muscle with the needle, we brake the fibre, and we recall an inflammatory response from the patient’s immune system. Which drives more blood and nutrients to the target area. As discussed further in this study published on PubMed, Dry Needling is effective for chronic non-specific neck pain 1. Is dry needling safe? Yes, it is, as long as the practitioner offering the service is qualified for it, and well knows the anatomy of the muscles. Said so, when you receive dry needling, there are a few things that you may want to consider. Firstly you better not have any metal allergy. Also, Dry Needling is not recommended if you have just done any strong physical activity or training, as the muscles would be in an acute inflammatory stage. In addition to this, other contraindications are: If the patient is on a blood thinner Diabetes type 1 The area is affected by Lymphedema The patient is unable to give the consent The patient would not be able to stay still as the needle is in the body Book now, your next Myotherapy session at Melbourne Massage and Treatment, Fitzroy North Clinic. How long the needle stays in the body? Depending on the area needing treatment, the needle may stay in the body for 3 to 10 minutes. And always based on the target muscle that needs to be treated would also depend on the type of treatment. Indeed, the needle could be placed in the muscle and left there to sit and create the physiological response needed, or it could even be partially extracted, moved around and placed back. This type of technique is called “peppering”. Peppering along a dry needling session allows the therapist to target other fibres around the muscle fibre area. 1. Cerezo-Téllez E, Torres-Lacomba M, Fuentes-Gallardo I, Perez-Muñoz M, Mayoral-Del-Moral O, Lluch-Girbés E, Prieto-Valiente L, Falla D. Effectiveness of dry needling for chronic nonspecific neck pain: a randomized, single-blinded, clinical trial. Pain. 2016 Sep;157(9):1905-1917. DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000591. PMID: 27537209.
Aug
Lymphedema is a health condition that develops when the lymphatic system gets dysfunctional. Compared with lipoedema, Lymphoedema presents disproportional swelling in 1 limb per side. As stated above, what’s behind the swelling is a malfunctioning lymphatic system that leads to an increased amount of protein below the skin (lymph liquid). As already discussed in a previous post about MLD, the lymphatic system has the function of taking away the lymph liquid and pass it on to the bloodstream. Indeed, from the bloodstream, it will all get filtered from the organs such as kidneys and liver to be disposed of. The lymph liquid is mainly made of water, protein and dirt. How MLD works? The Manual Lymphatic Drainage technique stimulates the lymphatic system that can also be boosted by muscular movement. Indeed a 30-minute to 1-hour walk can speed up the Lymphatic System to double speed. This happens due to the capillary (pre-collector) of the lymphatic system, which constantly opens and closes to suck away the lymph. The faster the opening and closing of the doors of the capillary, the quicker the suctions would be. How may lymphedema develop? Where things can go wrong is when the lymphatic system stops working or doesn’t work strong enough in one or more than one area of the body. The reason why the LS stop working and cause lymphodema is as follow: Missing lymph nodes can happen after surgery for cancer removal Genetics missing lymph nodes as per genetic Parasites Surgery damages the pre-collector/collector or lymph nodes with invasive surgery. Radiation due to cancer treatment Are there risk factors? Older age Excess weight or obesity Rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis When Lymohodema starts developing, an intervention of a professional carer is essential. Here is a link to a Manual Lymphatic Drainage therapist worldwide that can help you with that. Seeing a GP is also recommended. For intervention, I refer to MLD as a manual technique to boost the lymphatic system, compression bandaging and garments wear. The consequence of letting go of Lymphodema is quite severe. As the skin keeps swelling, it will stop receiving oxygen from the bloodstream sooner or later. As per result, the skin would start drying out, cracking, and possibly getting infected. Said so, the consequence can be even more severe and lead to Cancer too. MLD at Melbourne Massage and Treatment Regarding my training as an MLD therapist, I can’t treat clients with Lymphodema yet. My skills within the MLD technique are limited to working with a patient with an intact and fully functioning Lymphatic System. But don’t hesitate to contact me if you need more information about Lymphodema, as I can put you in touch with a therapist who can help.