title: The efficacy of manual lymphatic drainage therapy in the management of limb edema secondary to reflex sympathetic dystrophy.
abstract: The objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) therapy in edema secondary to the reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). A total of 34 patients were allocated randomly into two groups. All of the patients undertook nonstreoidal anti-inflammatory drug, physical therapy and therapeutic exercise program for 3 weeks. Patients in study group undertook MLD therapy additionally. Then the patients continued 2-month maintenance period with recommended home programs. Volumetric measurements pain scores and functional measurements were assessed at baseline, after treatment and 2 months after the treatment. After treatment, improvement in edema was statistically significant in the study group but not in the control group. At follow-up, with respect to baseline, improvements were not significant in both of the groups. Between the groups, difference of the percentage improvements in edema was statistically significant with superiority of MLD group after treatment, but not significant at follow-up. In this pilot study, MLD therapy was found to be beneficial in the management of edema resulted from RSD. Although the long-term results showed tendency towards improvement, the difference was not significant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Etlik, 06018, Ankara, Turkey. iltekinduman@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Iltekin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Duman
authors.forename: Ayten
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Arif Kenan
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dincer
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005121:Extremities / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013995:Time; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal