Physical therapy is the best treatment for lymphedema.

Madrid, September of 2011. The general Secretary of the General Council of schools of physical therapists of Spain (CGCFE), Manuel Alcantarilla, has ensured, on the occasion of the world day of lymphoma, physical therapy is the best treatment for existing Lymphedema nowadays.

Thus, it has also revealed that Spain are annually diagnosed ten new cases per 100,000 inhabitants and 350,000 worldwide. It is a type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system, whose function is to defend the body against infectious diseases.

Lymphedema is a condition characterized by the appearance of swelling or increasing volume in a particular area of the body, especially in arms and legs. It is a chronic disease in which there is no curative treatment, although detection and rapid attention allows to improve the clinical picture and avoid complications.

In this sense, Alcantarilla has explained the physiotherapist fights Lymphedema through a type of very gentle, yet effective, therapy called manual lymph drenático massage. This therapy physiotherapy stimulates evacuation of swelling through the lymphatic system.

At the end, the physiotherapist treatment is completed with bandages compresional, essential to maintain the positive effects of the massage manual lymphatic drenático and avoid the evacuated liquid back to accumulate in the area. In addition, physiotherapy exercises and the bandage help improve blood and lymphatic circulatory return.
As explained by the Secretary general, treatment is very effective when it begins to appear Lymphedema, but it is very important to maintain constant revisions with the physiotherapist for monitoring satisfactory.

Physical therapy, recommends avoiding risk factors that can favour the appearance of lymphedema, as excessive heat over the area, tight clothing and external aggressions such as scratches, wounds or burns.

Finally, pointed out that this treatment can only be guaranteed if practice you a physical therapist and has an impact on the health risks that often cause subjects without training or health qualifications (chiropractors, osteopathic, natural …) trying to supplant the work of physiotherapy, a health profession which requires overcoming a demanding college career ”.

CGCFE

The General Council of physiotherapists schools of Spain (CGCFE) is the body that represents more than 40,000 physiotherapists, in Spain, dealing with the common goal of promoting the health of citizens. In addition, orders the profession, guardianship the interests of physiotherapy, as well as its optimal implementation and universalization.

Physiotherapists are health professionals, as foreseen in existing legislation, accredited with the University degree in physical therapy, taught at 43 universities and holders of knowledge and skills designed to benefit the health of the population. Furthermore, there is a greater number of doctorates and masters, to ensure their high qualification.