ABSTRACT
While manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is the core of decongestive lymphatic therapy (DLT), few randomized studies focused on the clinical effect of the volume reduction of lymphedema have been performed, and they also have failed to prove any extra benefit by historical MLD techniques for lymphedema management. Besides, MLD is highly intra- and interoperator dependent. However, with new imaging techniques such as near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging (NIRFLI), MLD has shown its ability to improve lymph function; NIRFLI improved diagnosis and treatment of lymphedema besides the evaluation of the MLD methods with a real-time feedback, allowing “targeted” physical therapy.
