Introduction
Simple lymphatic drainage (SLD) is a special form of massage used to help people with lymphoedema and is based on the principles of manual lymphatic drainage. The aim of SLD is to move lymph fluid to areas of the body where it can drain away more easily.
- The massage should be gentle and light, just enough pressure to move the skin and not cause any redness. Slow and rhythmical with your hand relaxed and done on bare skin, not over clothes, and do not use any oils or creams
- You should spend about 15-20 minutes doing the massage, twice a day
- Make sure you are in a comfortable position, lying or sitting is best and in a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed
- It is fine for someone else to help you with the massage if you wish.
See leaflet for step-by-step diagrams
Step 1 – Breathing
- Sit or lie down with your shoulders relaxed and hands resting below your ribs
- Breathe in and feel your abdomen rising (imagine a balloon inflating under your hands)
- Slowly breathe out and press gently inwards with your hands
- Repeat 5 times.
Step 2 – Neck
- Place your relaxed hands on your neck below your ears
- Gently stretch or stroke the skin down towards your shoulders and release
- Repeat this movement 10 times.
Step 3 – Shoulders
- Place your relaxed hands on your shoulders and stroke inwards to the hollow behind your collarbone
- Use your finger pads to make gentle pressures into the hollow behind your collarbone
- Repeat this 5 times.
Step 4 – Armpit
- Place your left hand in your right armpit
- Massage upwards into your armpit and release (10 times)
- Ensure the direction is always upwards.
Step 5 – Chest
- Place your relaxed hand on the right side of your chest
- Stroke the skin across towards your right armpit
- Repeat 5-10 times, always stroking into the armpit.
Step 6 – Chest cont.
- Place your relaxed hand on the middle of your chest
- Stroke the skin across towards your right armpit
- Repeat 5-10 times, always stroking into the armpit.
Step 7 – Chest cont.
- Place your relaxed hand on the left side of your chest
- Stroke the skin across towards your right armpit
- Repeat 5-10 times, always stroking into the armpit.
Step 8 – Armpit/Back (with help)
Sitting or lying:
- Place relaxed hand in the right armpit
- Massage upwards into the armpit and release
- Repeat 10 times
- Ensure the direction is always up.
Step 9 – Back 1 (with help)
- Place relaxed hand(s) on the right side of the back
- Stroke the skin across into the right armpit and release
- Repeat 5-10 times.
Step 10 – Back 2 (with help)
- Place relaxed hand(s) on the middle of the back
- Stroke the skin across into the right armpit and release
- Repeat 5-10 times.
Step 11 – Back 3 (with help)
- Place relaxed hand(s) on the left side of the back
- Stroke the skin across into the right armpit and release
- Repeat 5-10 times.
Step 12 – Breathing to finish
- Sit or lie down with shoulders relaxed and hands resting below ribs
- Breathe in and feel your abdomen rising (imagine a balloon inflating under your hands)
- Slowly breathe out and press gently inwards with your hands
- Repeat 5 times.