Self-Care: Massage
Introduction
 
 
Living Well With Lymphedema 
Performing self-massage is an important role that you play in managing your lymphedema! 
The primary purpose of self-massage, also known as lymphatic massage, is to improve the flow and drainage of lymph by stimulating the lymphatic vessels. Your lymphedema therapist will instruct you in a program of daily self-massage. Since this is an important and your should perform self-massage regularly as directed by your therapist. [1]
Self-Massage Basics
If you have an infection, or any indication that you are developing an infection, you may need to modify or skip your self-massage until the infection is under control.
Self-massage is a gentle technique that should never hurt or make the skin red.
Self-massage is not the same as conventional muscle massage. Do not allow anyone, other than a trained lymphedema therapist, to instruct you in how to perform massage using deep strokes on lymphedema affected tissues. 
Self-Massage is best performed first thing in the morning before bandaging or exercising, and at other times as specified by your therapist. 
Self-massage should be performed in a time and place where you can be relaxed and will not be disturbed. The time devoted to self-massage varies depending on your condition and the instructions of your lymphedema therapist.
Most self-massage strokes use very little pressure and the hands do not slide over the skin. Instead they move and stretch the skin to stimulate the lymphatic capillaries located just under the skin. Therefore, oils and lotions that make the skin slippery are not used during self massage. 
Self-massage movements are repeated from five-to-seven times in the same position. This matches the subtle pumping motion of the lymphatic vessels in a rhythm of five-to-seven pulsations per minute. 
Self-massage begins at the terminus. This clears the terminus so that lymph flowing upward from other parts of the body can move freely into the terminus where it will rejoin the circulatory system.