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Management of lymphedema
Author(s) -
Vojáčková Naděžda,
Fialová Jorga,
Hercogová Jana
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
dermatologic therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1529-8019
pISSN - 1396-0296
DOI - 10.1111/j.1529-8019.2012.01534.x
Subject(s) - medicine , lymphedema , skin care , drainage , intermittent pneumatic compression , reduction (mathematics) , surgery , physical therapy , nursing , ecology , geometry , mathematics , cancer , thrombosis , breast cancer , venous thromboembolism , biology
The basic principle of the management of lymphedema is so called complex decongestive physical therapy. This therapy is divided into two phases: (i) edema reduction phase – an initial intensive treatment phase aiming for limb volume reduction; and (ii) maintenance phase – following long‐term phase to sustain a manageable limb volume. The first phase consists of a number of physical therapeutic approaches which are: manual lymph drainage, pneumatic pump drainage, low‐stretch bandaging, exercises, and skin care. Long‐term maintenance phase consists of self‐lymph drainage, low‐stretch bandaging, or compressive garments, and sometimes when indicated pneumatic pump drainage, exercises, and skin care.