Lymphedema reduction by noninvasive complex lymphedema therapy.

Noninvasive complex lymphedema therapy (CLT), a technique of manual lymph drainage, compressive bandaging, and specific physical therapy exercises, has been utilized successfully to treat lymphedema in Europe and Australia. This paper reports the results of such therapy in 38 patients (16 females with arm lymphedema secondary to breast surgery, 18 patients with unilateral lower extremity lymphedema, and 4 individuals with bilateral leg disease) for 1 month. Reduction of edema averaged 73% among the patients with arm disease, and 88% among those with leg lymphedema; both reductions are statistically significant. Thirty patients have been followed for up to 1 year. During this period, their average reduction in lymphedema of 80% improved to 86%. We conclude that CLT significantly and safely reduces lymphedema. Reductions not only are maintained after the initial therapy but may increase in magnitude.