Video on MLD: misinformation

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kira66715
kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

this popped up on my google alert: in my opinion, 1) why is she using gloves for intact skin? 2) she moves WAY too fast, 3) she actually says, "the palm never swells"

I hesitiate to put out the link, but it's out there

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7PPhHqOsUg

Now this one from Toronto, for how to clear the neck, seems reasonable

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9FP6AHj9Eo&feature=related

short on details, but no glaring errors

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9FPhFDOB8E&feature=related

Kira

Comments

  • KS1
    KS1 Member Posts: 632
    edited July 2011

    Hi Kira,

    I've always been a bit confused about the neck clearance, perhaps because I've been told to do different things by different people.  In the neck clearance video you posted, the LT seems to be sliding her hands across the skin.  Is the technique she is using standard? A more general question about sliding - is sliding discouraged because it just makes MLD less effective (less skin stretch), or does it have a negative effect or some sort?  KS1

  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited July 2011

    KS!--there are sweeps (sliding over skin) and stationary circles--moving the skin and releasing and the later is what I've been taught. She makes bigger movements than I've been taught--I tend to follow the JoAnne Rovig video on neck clearance--plus what my LE therapist has shown me.

    http://www.nwlymphedemacenter.org/

    Kira

  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited July 2011

    why is she doing it from top down??

  • KittyDog
    KittyDog Member Posts: 1,079
    edited July 2011

    Okay I was not taught that way at all.  Is that method better than what ever it is I learned? (sweeping method)  I wish there was somewhere else to go around here. 

  • Estel
    Estel Member Posts: 3,353
    edited July 2011

    Kira - The first one was posted by a woman I met on another BC forum.  She's a veteran of BC and of lymphedema.  I was surprised to say the least on how the therapist was doing it because it wasn't how I was taught AT ALL ... but the woman who posted it said her swelling went down 2 inches in her arm.  ?????  It was counter to everything that I've heard ... but she got results. 

  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited July 2011

    Dawn-Hope, for some reason in my google alert for LE that discussion came up: so I watched the video and I'm glad she got results, but it just isn't the the "right" way to do MLD--and it does make me realize that there is no standards out there, and Vodder makes their therapists recertifiy (voluntary) every two years to review technique, but no one else does.

    So, I put it up there as a warning of many things wrong with her technique--like the vinyl gloves and the rapidity of the strokes, and the distal (far) to proximal (near)--you open the near before you clear the far....

    We write all the time about how there is variation amongst our therapists, but this was a vivid example.

    Good that she got results--I hope she was bandaged after this "MLD"

    I'd love to have a really good reference MLD youtube video to post. I did find one, that was essentially an advertisement for a center in Florida, that wasn't bad.

    Until then: I'd go with the JoAnn Rovig videos--with the "do no harm" adage....

    Kitty: sweeps are fine--stationary circles are hard to do correctly--many of us press too hard and don't release the skin

    Letlet: very good question

    Clearly we're going to have to make our own video....

    Kira

  • BeckySharp
    BeckySharp Member Posts: 935
    edited July 2011

    Kira--I think making our own video is good.  I did buy JoAnn Rovig's video ($50) when I realized I was not getting good MLD.  I started doing it the way she described on herself.  (There are other things on the video).  My new therapist does it almost the same way and told me to keep doing it the way I learned from the video.  My first "LE" center only worked on affected side.  Cleared neck with three sweeps, worked from my waist to armpit (affected armpit) upward.  Then put lotion on my arm and massaged from wrist up very deeply.  Then wrapped.  30 min appt.  The MLD took no more than 5 min.  And with gloves on.  We were fully clothed.  They lined us up in recliners to do the work.  I felt bad for the leg LE people as they had to wear short shorts.  The only time I got to go into a bay was when she kineseo taped my breast.  I am still having nightmares about it.  I am repeating this story to tell all PLEASE find a good therapist.  I went from Stage 1 to Stage 2 at the first place.  I now have a fantastic new therapist and am really making progress.  I think the 45 min of MLD she does (all quadrants) and now I can work on my own arm unwrapped has a lot to do with it,  Sermon over.  Becky

  • BeckySharp
    BeckySharp Member Posts: 935
    edited July 2011

    Boy was I grumpy earlier.  Sorry for venting.  B

  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited July 2011

    Becky, that's not grumpy, IMO, that's a wise warning.

    When we get LE, we are clueless--at least I was--I had NO idea what good treatment was. I pm'ed Binney daily--and patient woman that she is, she guided me through some terrible therapists to decent help. And I found that credentials are good, but no guarantee of good care. Everyone I saw--with the exception of one weekend wonder--was certified by a major school, but their abilities varied widely.

    Ultimately, I see a private LMT who I pay out of pocket for: when insurance is involved, they go to the PT model of assess, treat, discharge--fine for an ankle sprain, not at all appropriate for a chronic condition which is largely managed without MD supervision--most MD"s just sign the assessment form without reading it or providing guidance. 

    So, when you get lousy care, it is a serious issue--you are not grumpy at all!

    Kira

    (prone to ranting)

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