Lymphatics and Pelvic Pain: New Strategies

Patients who have pelvic floor dysfunction frequently present with a variety of comorbidities and symptoms. One potentially severe complication of pelvic issues is a disruption in the lymphatic system that may lead to lymphatic congestion. Manual lymph drainage (MLD) is an intervention that pelvic rehabilitation providers can offer alongside manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, education, behavioral therapies, and other modalities for patients who present with pelvic floor dysfunctions and pain.

This 2-day training begins by teaching the fundamentals of lymph anatomy and physiology in addition to the identification, staging and classification of lymphedema. This continuing education course emphasizes the benefits of utilizing manual lymph drainage for patient with pelvic pain. The participants will be instructed in an approach for Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) that emphasizes pelvic lymphatic decongestion to utilize in conjunction with current interventions for pelvic pain. As you will see in the training course, this approach is warranted for a variety of pelvic floor dysfunction including: painful bladder syndrome, vulvodynia, vaginissmus, and many more.

Course attendees will learn how to examine the lymphatic system, how to integrate concepts of pelvic lymphatic dysfunction with common pelvic pain diagnoses, as well as how and when to apply appropriate manual lymphatic drainage techniques for specific patient presentations.

An emphasis is placed on hands-on practice with MLD, and several hours within the continuing education course are devoted to lab activities. Participants will not only learn standard lymph drainage protocols, but also how to adjust and supplement existing protocols with new decongestion MLD techniques for pelvic pain relief. At the end of this 2-day course, therapists can leave with a well-defined protocol for treating pelvic pain patients using manual lymphatic drainage.

Come and see how a lymphatic therapeutic approach is beneficial for reducing pain in patients with pelvic floor dysfunction.

Audience:

This continuing education seminar is targeted to physical therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapist assistants, and other rehabilitation professionals. Content is not intended for use outside the scope of the learner's license or regulation. Physical therapy continuing education courses should not be taken by individuals who are not licensed or otherwise regulated, except, as they are involved in a specific plan of care.

Assignments:

Participants are to complete the first objective by viewing a 20 minute video on the lymphatic system prior to the course date. This video will be emailed to participants 1 week before the course.

References

Dunberger, G., Lindquist, H., Waldenström, A. C., Nyberg, T., Steineck, G., & Åvall-Lundqvist, E. (2013). Lower limb lymphedema in gynecological cancer survivors—effect on daily life functioning. Supportive Care in Cancer, 21(11), 3063-3070.

Rasmusson, E., Gunnlaugsson, A., Blom, R., Björk-Eriksson, T., Nilsson, P., Ahlgen, G., ... & Kjellén, E. (2013). Low rate of lymphedema after extended pelvic lymphadenectomy followed by pelvic irradiation of node-positive prostate cancer. Prostate, 50(1), 4.

Vannelli, A., Basilico, V., Zanardo, M., Caizzone, A., Rossi, F., Battaglia, L., & Scaramuzza, D. (2013). Pelvic lymphedema in rectal cancer: a magnetic resonance feasibility study: a preliminary report. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci,17(7), 929-35.

Yost, K. J., Cheville, A. L., Al-Hilli, M. M., Mariani, A., Barrette, B. A., McGree, M. E., ... & Dowdy, S. C. (2014). Lymphedema After Surgery for Endometrial Cancer: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Quality of Life. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 124(2, PART 1), 307-315.