decongestive

Complex decongestive therapy is divided into two successive phases.

At advanced stages of lymphedema, complex decongestive therapy or possible drug therapies may be needed.

Combined therapy is also called complex decongestive therapy.

Other effects are: analgesic, uterotonic, decongestive and anti-inflammatory.

Although there is no way to eliminate the excessive fat accumulation of lipedema, treatment called complete decongestive therapy can ease painful symptoms.

Complex decongestive physiotherapy is an empiric system of lymphatic massage, skin care, and compressive garments.

Complete decongestive therapy involves:

Massage used in the medical field includes decongestive therapy used for lymphedema which can be used in conjunction with the treatment of breast cancer.

Elastic compression garments are worn by persons with lymphedema on the affected limb following complete decongestive therapy to maintain edema reduction.

Complex decongestive therapy is a multimodality program that consists of manual lymphedema drainage therapy, low-stretch bandaging, exercises, and skin care.

Intermittent external pneumatic compression may also provide additional improvement with lymphedema management when used adjunctively with decongestive lymphatic therapy.

University of Rochester Medical Center: "Lymphedema Therapy: Complete Decongestive Therapy."

Petrek JA: Commentary: prospective trial of complete decongestive therapy for upper extremity lymphedema after breast cancer therapy.

The preferred therapy for lymphedema, called complete decongestive therapy, involves a time- and labor-intensive gentle massage technique to stimulate new pathways for the lymphatic fluid.

Koul R, Dufan T, Russell C, et al.: Efficacy of complete decongestive therapy and manual lymphatic drainage on treatment-related lymphedema in breast cancer.

Szuba A, Achalu R, Rockson SG: Decongestive lymphatic therapy for patients with breast carcinoma-associated lymphedema.

Vignes S, Porcher R, Champagne A, et al.: Predictive factors of response to intensive decongestive physiotherapy in upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer treatment: a cohort study.

Hinrichs CS, Gibbs JF, Driscoll D, et al.: The effectiveness of complete decongestive physiotherapy for the treatment of lymphedema following groin dissection for melanoma.

Compression wrapping and decongestive physiotherapy of the affected extremity has been shown to be effective in other forms of lymphedema, but the benefits of these therapies have not been rigorously studied in podoconiosis.

Complete decongestive lymphatic physiotherapy demands substantial time and effort from patients to maintain the benefits; treatments are not always well-accepted, and patients may suffer from a deterioration in quality of life or develop enhanced anxiety.

A Stanford University medical study showed patients receiving the combined modalities of manual lymph drainage (MLD) with complete decongestive therapy (CDT) and pneumatic pumping had a greater overall reduction in limb volume than patients receiving only MLD/CDT.