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Treatment of the lymphatics

Notes

Lymphatics

Treatment of the lymphatics

HEENT*
TREATMENT	TECHNIQUE
Auricular drainage	Patient is supine with head turned to one side, cephalad hand stabilizes the patient’s head Place caudad hand flat against side of the head with the patient’s ear between the 3^rd and 4^th fingers Make repetitive circular motions with the caudad hand moving the skin and fascia over the surface of the skull
Mandibular drainage (Galbreath technique)	Patient is supine with head turned toward you, cephalad hand stabilizes the patient’s head Place fingertips of caudad hand along posterior ramus of the mandible and hypothenar eminence along the body of the mandible Instruct the patient to slightly open mouth while you exert gentle pressure on the mandible to draw it slightly forward and toward the midline; repeat in a slow, rhythmic fashion
Trigeminal stimulation	Patient is supine Apply gentle pressure in a circular motion at the supraorbital (CN V1), infraorbital (CN V2), and mental (CN V3) foramina
Facial effleurage	Patient is supine Place fingertips along the superior aspect of the eyebrows Gently and slowly run the fingers laterally along the supraorbital ridge then inferiorly toward the TMJ
Frontonasal distraction	Patient is supine Place cephalad hand on the frontal bone and apply a gentle cephalad traction Place 1^st and 2^nd finger of caudad hand on either side of the nasal bones and apply a gentle caudad traction
Alternating nasal pressure	Patient is supine Place tips of thumbs at the junction of the nasal and frontal bones Exert pressure diagonally and alternate sides
CERVICAL LYMPH NODES
TREATMENT	TECHNIQUE
Cervical chain drainage	Patient is supine with head turned to one side Cephalad hand stabilizes the patient’s head, caudad hand makes broad contact over the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) Roll your fingers in a lateral to medial motion and repeat as you move caudally along the SCM
Anterior cervical arches	Patient is supine, cephalad hand stabilizes the patient’s head Place 1^st and 2^nd finger of caudad hand to form a horseshoe over the anterior cervical arches region Alternate contact with the lateral aspects of the hyoid, laryngeal cartilages and upper tracheal rings, gently pushing them from one side to the other
DIAPHRAGM / THORACIC RELEASE
TREATMENT	TECHNIQUE
Thoracic inlet myofascial release	Stand behind the seated patient Place hands over thoracic inlet with fingertips touching the clavicles, fingers on scalenes, and thumbs touching at midline at T1 level Assess myofascia in all three planes of motion (rotation, side bending, flexion / extension) and determine which breath cycle exhibits less tension “Stack” the tissues at the position of ease until a release is palpated
Thoracoabdominal diaphragm release	Stand behind the seated patient Place hands around thoracic cage and fingers underneath costal margins Move torso and thoracic tissues to determine their directions of ease, then hold the patient’s torso and tissues in this position until the fascia releases and settles into a rhythmic vertical motion
Thoracic pump	Patient is supine, stand at the head of the table Place hands on the anterior thoracic wall with thumbs pointing caudally and fingers pointing laterally Induce a rhythmic pumping action (pushing with exhalation and releasing with inhalation) Active variation: apply pressure onto the chest wall with exhalation and maintain pressure while patient inhales. During the patient’s 3^rd or 4^th inhalation, rapidly remove hands from their chest to promote large intrathoracic pressure changes
OTHER
TREATMENT	TECHNIQUE
Suboccipital release	Patient is supine Place fingertips inferior to the inferior nuchal line at the area of the suboccipital musculature Balance the head and neck on your fingertips and maintain gentle pressure in this position until the tissues soften
Pedal pump	Patient is supine Grasp patient’s feet and place them in dorsiflexion Induce a rhythmic motion by alternating dorsiflexion and plantar flexion

* HEENT: these techniques can be performed with you sitting at the head of the table or to one side of the patient

Summary

The lymphatic system plays an important role in immune function and fluid balance in the body. Treatment of the lymphatics depends on the underlying condition or disorder affecting the lymphatic system. Some possible treatments for lymphatic disorders include techniques like auricular drainage, Galbreath technique, and trigeminal stimulation, which are applied in the HEENT (head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat) region; thoracic inlet myofascial release, thoracoabdominal diaphragm release, and thoracic pump techniques which are applied in the chest region; and the suboccipital release technique applied in the neck region; and the pedal pump technique applied on the feet.

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Treatment of the lymphatics

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Lymphatics

Treatment of the lymphatics

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