How to Have A Foot Massage For Leg Edema

Edema is the accumulation of fluid in tissue, causing the hands, ankles, eyelids and other body parts to swell. It occurs as the result of certain medications, pregnancy, retaining salt, allergy or more serious underlying diseases. Making lifestyle and diet changes as well as taking diuretic medication are usually effective ways to cure or alleviate edema. Read on to learn more about how to reduce the swelling.

1. Lymphatic Massage Therapy for Edema
Lymphatic Massage involves a light touch massage therapy, which helps in enhancing the functioning of the lymphatic system. It is also known as Lymphatic Drainage Massage or Manual Lymphatic Massage. If there is a problem in the functioning of the lymphatic system, then it leads to swelling, headaches, cramps, fluid retention, fatigue, lethargy, joint pain, and repeated cold and flu infections.

The lymphatic massage technique involves stimulating the lymphatic drainage system. This helps in encouraging the drainage of accumulated fluids and helps in restoring the normal function of the lymphatic drainage system. Lymphatic massage technique involves gentle touch with the massage strokes directed towards the heart (direction of the lymphatic flow). Preferably one finger should be used to perform these massage strokes. The massage strokes should be short and in one direction beginning with affected limb lying closest to the trunk.

2. Leg and Foot Massage for Edema
__Using a single finger, start the massage using gentle and light strokes on the affected leg nearest to the trunk of body.

__Make sure the massage strokes are in upward direction.

__Slowly move downwards along the limb using similar strokes. These massage strokes help in encouraging the fluid drainage through the pathway. The reason for beginning from the trunk is to remove any obstructions that could be blocking the normal flow of lymphatic fluid towards the heart and preventing lymphatic tissue damage.

__This massage should be done in the proper manner by a qualified massage therapist. Each massage session could last for over 30 minutes.