Manual Lymphatic Drainage
by Return to Play Institute, LLC

Picture yourself moving freely without puffiness, swelling, the heaviness of fluid retention, or the fatigue that drags you down. Imagine your legs and ankles not feeling heavy.

Lymphatic edema (swelling) is a naturally occurring event in our body, but for most, the swelling is minor, short-lived, and goes away within a few hours. For the rest of us, edema in the body can be more complicated and even debilitating. A night out with great food and drinks, a major competitive event like a marathon, or just out shopping all day can cause our bodies to swell in various places, creating a feeling of puffiness, heavy legs, and even lethargy. So what can be done about this? Look no further than to Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). 

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a therapeutic massage technique which stimulates the lymphatic system of your body and helps to move the fluids out. It’s a gentle yet powerful way to enhance your lymphatic system’s function. 

The lymphatic system is your body’s immunity defense system and a natural detoxifier. It tirelessly removes unwanted fluids, proteins, and other waste products from the spaces between the tissues and muscles. When not functioning properly, the lymphatic system may experience a range of issues, from swelling and inflammation to fatigue and compromised immunity (illness).

But here’s the good news: MLD massage can help restore balance and promote balance in the lymphatic system. At Return to Play Institute (RTPI), highly-trained, skilled therapists understand the lymphatic system and how to manipulate it to benefit your unique needs. Whether your goal is general wellness or post-surgical recovery, the therapists at RTPI craft a personalized approach to your care so you feel better. 

Who Can Benefit From Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Body-Contouring Surgery (Mommy-makeover, Liposuction, etc.)

Kathy is a successful mom of three and very active. However, childbirth has left her body in a state of chaos – her breasts are much smaller now, her stomach is no longer flat, and her pants size has increased several sizes compared to her pre-children years. Kathy just finished surgery 2-days ago. She decided to get a mommy makeover with a breast lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction to other areas of her torso and legs. Now Kathy is significantly bruised, has a lot of swelling in all areas of her body, and can’t wait to heal back to a new self. 

Kathy decided to contact Return to Play Institute to schedule Post-Op MLD (PS-MLD) to begin her healing journey. Through a series of 8-12 appointments over 6-8 weeks, Kathy is now completely healed. The swelling has gone in the abdomen, back, and breasts. Her incision scars are pliable, not pinching, and are beginning to fade. The swelling in Kathy’s breasts has disappeared, and her implants look fantastic, with scars from the lift feeling soft and beginning to disappear. 

Overall, Kathy feels really good about her recovery journey and is thankful she went to RTPI right after surgery. Throughout the process, therapists at RTPI told her what to expect each week and how to compress properly, guided her with nutritional recommendations, and taught her self-care techniques so she could participate in her own healing process. Kathy is now fully recovered, still maintaining her active lifestyle and enjoying her new self. 

Feeling Better the Next Day

Naomi is 26 years old and loves the nightlife. With a regular desk job during the day, Naomi likes to kick it up at night and on the weekends – spending time with friends, dancing, and meeting new people. Unfortunately, for every night she is out having fun, her body demands she take the next day or two off to recover – not from drinking or drugs, but from being super active. Naomi’s penalty for having fun is usually swollen calves and ankles, a puffy face, fatigue, and a feeling of dehydration even though she drank water almost continuously. 

Fortunately, Naomi found rejuvenating MLD therapy at RTPI. Receiving weekly rejuvenating manual lymphatic drainage massage treatments from RTPI therapists has given Naomi significant relief days after her active nights, and her body feels much better and faster than ever before. In addition to treatments in the clinic, RTPI therapists have taught her self-care techniques and suggested avoiding certain foods so she is not overloading her body’s natural detox system.   

Oncology Post-Surgery Recovery

Meet Sarah, a 35-year-old woman who recently underwent surgery for breast cancer. After her operation, she experienced significant swelling in her arm due to lymphedema, which left her feeling uncomfortable and anxious about her recovery. 

Sarah decided to try Manual Lymphatic Drainage at Return to Play Institute. During her sessions, our trained therapists used gentle techniques to encourage lymph flow and reduce swelling. Over several weeks, Sarah noticed a remarkable decrease in her arm’s size and an improvement in her comfort level. She felt empowered by her progress and appreciated the compassionate care she received throughout her journey.