Lymphatic Drainage Therapy in Spokane
Lymphatic drainage therapy — also called Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) — is a specific manual technique that uses light, rhythmic strokes to encourage movement of lymphatic fluid through the body.
What the lymphatic system does
The lymphatic system is a network of vessels and nodes that runs alongside the circulatory system. Lymph — a clear fluid carrying immune cells, proteins, and metabolic waste — moves through these vessels and is filtered through lymph nodes before returning to the bloodstream. When the system functions normally, it does this without intervention.
Lymphatic dysfunction occurs when nodes are damaged or removed (most commonly after cancer surgery, particularly mastectomy with axillary node dissection), when vessels are injured, or in certain primary lymphatic disorders. The result is fluid accumulation and tissue changes that can become permanent without proper treatment.
When to seek lymphatic drainage
- Lymphedema (chronic swelling, often unilateral, frequently following lymph node removal or radiation)
- Lipedema (a connective tissue disorder primarily affecting women, characterized by symmetrical fat accumulation in the legs and arms)
- Post-mastectomy or post-surgical lymphedema
- Chronic venous insufficiency with secondary lymphedema
For these conditions, look for therapists with credentials such as CLT-LANA (the Lymphology Association of North America), Vodder School certification, or training through the Klose Training, Norton School, or Académie Vodder programs. Proper treatment involves more than manual drainage alone — it includes compression bandaging or garments, meticulous skin care, exercise prescription, and patient education on long-term self-management.
Patient Support
509-413-1630
info@synergyspokane.com
Commonly Used Therapies:
What a typical session involves
Where lymphatic drainage is offered, a session typically lasts 45–60 minutes. The therapist works with the patient lying down, partially clothed depending on the area being treated. Strokes are extremely light — designed to engage the surface lymphatic vessels without compressing deeper tissue. The session begins at the neck (where major lymphatic ducts return fluid to circulation) and progresses toward the area of concern.
The technique is not painful, and most patients describe it as deeply relaxing. There are specific contraindications — including active infection, untreated cancer, congestive heart failure, and acute thrombosis — that any qualified provider screens for during intake.
Synergy's current scope
Synergy Healthcare’s clinical focus is physical and occupational therapy across orthopedic, neurological, and chronic pain conditions. We do not currently provide lymphatic drainage therapy for new patients, and we do not provide it for patients with lymphedema or lipedema at any time. If you’ve been referred for lymphatic drainage as part of post-surgical or cancer-related care, please ask your physician for a referral to a Certified Lymphedema Therapist.
For services we do provide — including chronic pain treatment, post-surgical rehabilitation, Graded Motor Imagery, Frequency Specific Microcurrent therapy, Clinical Pilates, and Craniosacral Therapy — please contact us to discuss whether we’re the right fit.