⇒ Only offered at our Gainesville office
CDT Q & A
What is Complete Decongestive Therapy?
Complete Decongestive Therapy is an exclusive treatment that only Certified Lymphedema Therapists can assess, perform and effectively manage the symptoms of edema or swelling in your limbs and/or trunk region. There are several causes of edema from medical diagnoses like:
- Lymphedema or lipedema
- Congestive heart failure
- Venous insufficiency
- Medication side effect, such as chemotherapy and radiation
- Post-surgical swelling
Swelling and edema can be truly devastating as physical and structural changes in your lymphatic vessels that eliminate the swelling are changed and could result in significant limitations to your range of motion, mobility, and endurance as well as could cause potential infections and skin changes resulting in wounds.
What can Physical Therapy help with swelling?
Your physical therapist will first complete an extensive review of your medical history, including medications, surgeries, and any pertinent surgical history as well as any and all social and lifestyle support systems that you have. This treatment includes hands-on manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) technique, mobility exercises and stretches, fitting and recommendation for compression garments, and possible recommendation for an appropriate compression pump. Your physical therapist will teach and train you and any care partner to assist in the management of edema to significantly reduce its effect on your mobility and keep it at bay.
To learn more about how to control and eliminate your swelling, call Results Physical Therapy today or schedule online.
