The Physical Decongestive Therapy of Lymphedema

Lymphedema is usually seen as a peripheral disease of the upper and lower extremities and can be presented in different stages and evolutions for each case. In secondary oncologic treatments-related lymphedema, other anatomical sites can be interested by lymphedema such as head and neck, breast and genitalia. Those anatomical areas required more complex therapeutical strategies and different decongestive treatments compared to those used for limb lymphedema. Besides the etiology, lymphedema represents a clinical sign of exceeding the capacity of compensation of the lymphatic system and it is thus characterized by the accumulation of high-protein fluid in the interstitial space. This can be the consequence of: This chapter will focus on the physical treatment of secondary lymphedema of the extremities, although most of the concepts reported can be applied also to primary lymphedema.