Canadian Lymphedema Framework

Canadian Lymphedema Framework has a new website: www.canadalymph.ca. Please visit this informative site and get the latest updates on what is happening in Canada and also the latest on the CLF conference in Calgary October 23-24.

One Person can initiate a campaign to change

See how one person can initiate a campaign to change legislation in the USA, governing reimbursement of compression garments.  Support the Lymphedema Treatment Act.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQZuvWs4-Pc&feature=youtu.be

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.