Lymphedema Awareness Day

Lymphedema Awareness Day is March 6^th! We salute all those who have worked tirelessly to promote lymphedema awareness around the world. Thank you to all the patients and their families, patient support groups, lymphedema associations, lymphedema framework projects, therapists, physicians, educators, researchers, politicians and all those involved in creating awareness and advocating for care.

Lympahtic research takes a big leap forward in Canada

Lympahtic research takes a big leap forward in Canada. On 9/24/13 in Calgary, the Dianne & Irving Kipnes Foundation donated $5 Million to the University of Calgary, Snyder Chronic Disease Research Institute to support research into lymphedema. Read more: http://www.vodderschool.com/current_articles

Congratulations to Dr. Vodder School – trained therapist, Berit Jardine, BVSc, RMT

Congratulations to Dr. Vodder School – trained therapist, Berit Jardine, BVSc, RMT for the publication of her research on the efficacy of MLD to improve early outcome after total knee arthroplasty.  Please read the abstract from the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2013 (in press).

 

Randomized Trial Investigating the Efficacy of Manual Lymphatic Drainage to Improve Early Outcome After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Jay R. Ebert, PhD,a,b Brendan Joss, PhD,a,b Berit Jardine, BVSc, RMT,b David J. Wood, BSC, MBBS, MS, FRCS, FRACSc

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) in the early postoperative period after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to reduce edema and pain and improve knee range of motion.

Design: Prospective randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Private hospital and functional rehabilitation clinic.

Participants: Consecutive sample of patients (NZ43; 53 knees) scheduled for TKA.

Intervention: MLD (vs no MLD) on days 2, 3, and 4 postoperatively. Both groups underwent conventional, concomitant physical therapy.

Main Outcome Measures: Clinical assessment was undertaken pre- and postoperatively prior to and after the designated postoperative MLD sessions (days 2, 3, and 4) and at 6 weeks postsurgery. This included active knee flexion and extension range of motion, lower limb girths (ankle, midpatella, thigh, and calf), and knee pain using a numeric rating scale and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score.

Results: A significant group effect was observed for active knee flexion, with post hoc tests demonstrating a significantly greater active knee flexion in the MLD group when compared with the control (no MLD) group at the final measure prior to hospital discharge (day 4 postsurgery) and at 6 weeks postsurgery. There were no further group effects observed for the remaining patient-reported and functional outcomes.

Conclusions: MLD in the early postoperative stages after TKA appears to improve active knee flexion up to 6 weeks postsurgery, in addition to conventional care.

New article

The new consensus document on the treatment of lymphedema has been published in the latest edition of Lymphology:

ISL executive committee: The Diagnosis and Treatment of Peripheral Lymphedema. Lymphology 46 (2013) 1 – 11

Lymph taping June 2013

Lymph Taping comes to Canada. Congratulations to 32 therapists in Toronto and Winnipeg who completed the first medical lymph taping course in North America using the Cure Tape system from Holland. Participants were extremely enthusiastic about this two day course and many had already taken other taping courses. Joyce Bosman, PT gave a lot of new insights to taping for breast, genital, fibrosis, scar and many other indications. We plan on hosting more classes soon.

Staying Relevant in Lymphedema Management

Staying Relevant in Lymphedema Management: attend this innovative new
course instructed by Sara Nelson, DPT at the Scottsdale Health center in
Arizona, September 30th

Developing Skills

Developing a skilled Manual Lymph Drainage therapist/practitioner takes time and commitment both by the therapist and the educator.  The Dr. Vodder School does not take short-cuts in training and is committed to providing the best possible learning experience in a supportive environment. Here is what an experienced physical therapist stated about our training:
"When we practice the basic strokes over and over again, our palpation skills deepen and we become aware of more and more under our hands.  At a time where knowledge is highly promoted we don't want to forget the significance of what our hands can do and that building manual skills takes repetition and time." Sara Nelson, DPT, Kennewick, WA, 2013