Lymphedema Magazine is launched

PATHWAYS - Canada's Lymphedema Magazine, empowering patients and professionals, is a new publication launched this Spring by the Canadian Lymphedema Framework and its provincial affiliates. This full colour, professionally produced magazine will provide education and information to a niche market of Canadians living with lymphedema and the various professionals that support their care. Subscription, advertising and editorial content enquiries can be directed to canadalymph@live.ca

First course in Taipei Taiwan completed

Dr. Vodder School-International has just completed the first Chinese-speaking course in Taiwan. 18 health care professionals attended the first Dr. Vodder training, held in Taipei city in Chinese with translation provided for instructor and director, Robert Harris by Gloria Yuan from Yuanliu School. Congratulations to all who completed this first course!

Prof. Hildegard Wittlinger will be a keynote speaker at NLN conference

We are very excited to announce that Professor Hildegard Wittlinger will be the keynote speaker at the National Lymphedema Network conference in Dallas, on September 9th 2012. Professor Wittlinger founded the original Dr. Vodder School in Austria and has been a champion of the Dr. Vodder method of Manual Lymph Drainage around the world and has inspired many thousands of therapists. She will speak on the history and development of the Vodder method of MLD. For further information go to the NLN website at: www.lymphnet.org

Lymphedema consensus documents

Lymphedema consensus documents are now available for download. Two important, world-wide consensus documents are available for download from our website at www.vodderschool.com/current_articles. The International Society of Lymphology (ISL) has a 2009 document on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Peripheral Lymphedema. The International Lymphedema Framework (ILF) has a 2006 Best Practice for the Management of Lymphedema document. There are plans to release an update to the ILF document in 2012.

MLD 4 week Certification Courses in Victoria, BC

Our Fall courses are just around the corner. We will be offering Basic, Therapy I and Therapy II & III classes. These courses are available to PTs, PTAs, OTs, OTAs, RNs, and RMTs. The latter require a minimum of 500 hours in a recognized massage therapy program or US National certification. If you have completed 500 hours at a massage school this is sufficient training prerequisite.

The courses will be in Victoria, the beautiful oceanfront capital of British Columbia, Canada.

Basic is the first level of the 4-week training program, involving extensive hands-on work. The basic strokes and their application to each body part are taught. The theory covers anatomy and physiology of the lymph vessel system, connective tissue, effects of MLD and contradictions. Lymphedemas are described with an emphasis on how MLD can affect them.

Therapy I is the second level of the 4-week training program and will teach you the orthopedic applications of MLD as well as learning specialized techniques for the head, abdomen and intercostals. Apart from the new skills and theory you will learn in this class, there will be a thorough review of Basic theory and practical.

Therapy II & III is the final two weeks of the training and will teach you how to apply the skills you have learned in the Basic and Therapy I courses to various pathologies. You will learn many new skills including Combined Decongestive Therapy, which utilizes bandaging, edema strokes, exercises and skin care. While more than half of the course is dedicated to the treatment of lymphedema, many other pathologies are also covered. Dr. Anna Towers, lymhedema specialist from Montreal University Health Centre and associate professor in the faculty of Medicine at McGill University will give the theory lectures.

Vodder News now available to read

Dr. Vodder News contains the latest information from the Dr. Vodder School, www.vodderschool.com/vodder_news
In the February issue, read an interesting article from Prof. Neil Piller about publishing your case studies. The latest book from Dr. Vodder School by Prof. Hildegard Wittlinger: Dr. Vodder's Manual Lymph Drainage; A Practical Guide is also featured. Read also about the upcoming International Lymphedema Framework conference and the newly formed North American Lymphedema Education Association.

Lymphedema compression taken to a new level with Angela Vollmer, orthopedic technician from Freiburg, Germany.

The Dr. Vodder School held a 2 day "Expert Garment Fitter" course in Victoria, BC in May. In conjunction wit BSN medical, this course teaches the art of garment fitting to fitters, therapists and clinicians already familiar with garment fitting. The response from participants was extremely positive and two half days of the course were spent with lymphedema patients learning all the tricks and ways to maximize fitting the perfect garment. Participants from across Canada and Washington State included fitters, occupational therapists, nurses and lymphedema therapists. It is hoped to repeat this class next year.