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Lymphatic techniques

Last updated: September 21, 2022

Summarytoggle arrow icon

Lymphatic techniques use the respiratory-circulatory model to enhance lymphatic and venous flow. Lymphatic flow is mainly affected through extrinsic and intrinsic forces. Congestion and edema may accumulate in response to infection, tissue injury, or somatic dysfunction. Treatment aiming to restore lymphatic drainage has shown to augment the healing process.

Overviewtoggle arrow icon

  • Uses the respiratory-circulatory model
  • Treatment begins centrally and continues peripherally.
  • Lymphatic system drains into the venous system.
  • Treatment always begins with the thoracic inlet release.
  • Flow is affected by intrinsic and extrinsic forces, including:
    • Smooth muscle contraction
    • Changes in fluid pressure
    • Skeletal muscle contraction
    • Pulsation of adjacent arteries
    • Excursion of the rib cage (negative intrathoracic pressure)
    • Musculoskeletal manipulative medicine

Headtoggle arrow icon

Frontal lift

  • Position: supine
  • Procedure
    1. Grasp the frontal bone by placing hands anterior to the coronal suture and lateral to the eyebrows.
    2. Interlock fingers and apply a gentle anterior-superior lift.
    3. Hold until a release is felt.

Nasion spread (frontonasal lift)

  • Function: increase mobility between the frontal and nasal bones; increase lymphatic flow of the paranasal sinuses
  • Position: supine
  • Procedure
    1. Contact the frontal bone with one hand.
    2. Grasp the nasal bone with the index finger and thumb with the other hand.
    3. Apply a gentle separating force by applying traction inferiorly on the nasal bone.
    4. Hold until a release is felt.

Zygomatic lift

  • Position: supine
  • Procedure
    1. Contact the zygomatic arch with the thenar eminences and interlock fingers.
    2. Apply gentle anterior traction.
    3. Hold until a release is felt.

Direct pressure & effleurage of frontal sinuses

  • Position: supine
  • Procedure
    1. Place the thumbs on the frontal sinuses just lateral to the midline.
    2. Apply 7–10 gentle compressions.
    3. With gentle pressure on the sinuses, add 7–10 strokes laterally to the pterion.

Direct pressure & effleurage of maxillary sinuses

  • Position: supine
  • Procedure
    1. Place the thumbs on the maxillary sinuses.
    2. Apply 7–10 gentle compressions.
    3. With gentle pressure on the sinuses, add 7–10 strokes laterally.

Drainage of the nasal passage

  • Position: supine
  • Procedure
    1. Contact the nasal bone by crossing the thumbs on each side.
    2. Apply intermittent medial pressure while traveling down the nasal bone 7–10 times.
      • Pressure should be applied on the bone and not cartilage.

Galbreath technique

  • Position: supine with examiner seated on the opposite side of restriction
  • Procedure
    1. Stabilize forehead with one hand.
    2. Contact the mandible with the other hand.
      • Contact the ascending ramus with the 2nd and 3rd fingers.
      • Contact the angle and body of the mandible with the 4th and 5th fingers.
    3. Apply anterior-medial traction.
    4. Repeat until a release is felt.

Post-auricular sternocleidomastoid muscle lymphatic drainage

Cervical lymphatic drainage

Thoraxtoggle arrow icon

Thoracic inlet release (necklace technique)

  • Function: releases restriction in terminal lymphatic drainage into the subclavian veins; always the first step in lymphatic treatments
  • Position: supine
  • Procedure
    1. Contact the thoracic inlet by placing palms over the trapezius muscle and fingers over the medial clavicle and proximal sternum.
    2. Determine restricted barriers.
      • Flexion and extension: Gently place thoracic inlet into flexion and extension.
      • Rotation: Gently twist the thoracic inlet into right and left rotation.
      • Side bending: Gently place thoracic inlet into right and left side bending.
    3. Place thoracic inlet into the restrictive barriers and apply lateral traction until a release is felt.

Thoracic lymphatic pump

  • Position: supine
  • Procedure
    1. Place hands just inferior to the clavicles on the anterior aspect of the upper ribs
    2. Optional: ask female patients to place hands onto the superior aspect of the breasts for comfort
    3. Ask patient to inhale.
    4. Upon exhalation, augment a downward movement of the ribs by applying posterior-inferior pressure.
    5. Apply a vibratory compression at the end of exhalation.
    6. Allow patient to inhale without resistance.
    7. Repeat until palpatory sense of increased soft tissue compliance and decreased tissue congestion is attained.

Pectoral release

  • Position: supine with examiner at the head of the table
  • Procedure
    1. Grasp the inferior border of the pectoralis muscles.
    2. Apply superior traction.
    3. Continue until a release of tension is felt.

Upper extremitytoggle arrow icon

Upper extremity lymphatic pump

  • Position: supine
  • Procedure
    1. Flex the patient's arms 180°.
    2. While grasping proximal to the wrists, apply vibratory traction, creating an oscillatory pump.
    3. Continue for 15–30 seconds.

Abdomentoggle arrow icon

Doming of the diaphragm (anterolateral attachments)

  • Position: seated
  • Procedure
    1. Contact soft tissues just along the inferior costal margin with finger pads.
    2. Monitor respiratory excursion of the diaphragm.
    3. Gently resist downward motion of the diaphragm during inhalation and follow superiorly through exhalation.
    4. Repeat with slow, deep breathing of the patient until a release is felt.

Doming of the diaphragm (supine)

  • Position: supine
  • Procedure
    1. Place finger pads on the outer aspect of the inferior border of the ribs.
    2. Ask patient to inhale and then exhale.
    3. Upon exhalation, apply a posterior-superior motion (augmenting motion of the diaphragm).
    4. Resist inferior motion of the diaphragm upon inhalation.
    5. Repeat for several respiratory cycles.

Abdominal lifts

  • Position: supine with knees bent at 90°
  • Procedure
    1. Contact lower quadrant of the abdomen (just superior to the inguinal ligament).
    2. Gently lift in an upward and opposite direction.
      • Special attention should be focused on the internal organs.

Mesenteric release (supine)

Mesenteric release (prone; known as Marian Clark drainage)

Ganglion release

Liver and gallbladder pump

  • Position: lateral recumbent with the right side up
  • Procedure
    1. Contact the rib cage with both hands on the posterior lower ribs and the anterior costal arch.
    2. Ask patient to take deep breaths.
    3. Apply a gentle downward compression during exhalation.
    4. Allow the rib cage to expand during inhalation.
    5. Repeat alternating compression-relaxation as necessary.

Splenic drainage

  • Position: lateral recumbent with the left side up
  • Procedure
    1. Contact the rib cage with both hands on the posterior lower ribs and the anterior costal arch.
    2. Ask patient to take deep breaths.
    3. Apply a gentle downward compression during exhalation.
    4. Allow the rib cage to expand during inhalation.
    5. Repeat alternating compression-relaxation as necessary.

Thoracolumbar spinetoggle arrow icon

Rib raising

  • Position: seated with arms crossed
  • Procedure
    1. Reach behind patient and contact rib angles with finger pads.
    2. Shift weight posteriorly and pull patient toward you to stretch intercostal spaces.
    3. Apply anterior-lateral traction.
    4. Repeat throughout thoracolumbar spine.

Lumbar paraspinal inhibition (rib-less rib raising)

Pelvistoggle arrow icon

Pelvic diaphragm release (prone)

  • Position: prone
  • Procedure
    1. Contact ischial tuberosities bilaterally.
    2. Place fingertips just medial to the tuberosities to reach pelvic diaphragm.
    3. Monitor respiratory excursion.
    4. Resist downward movement of pelvic diaphragm during inhalation and follow superiorly through exhalation.
    5. Repeat through slow, deep breathing of the patient until a release is felt.

Pelvic diaphragm release (lateral recumbent)

  • Position: lateral recumbent
  • Procedure
    1. Contact superior ischial tuberosity.
    2. Place fingertips just medial to the superior tuberosity to reach pelvic diaphragm.
    3. Monitor respiratory excursion.
    4. Resist downward movement of pelvic diaphragm during inhalation and follow superiorly through exhalation.
    5. Repeat through slow, deep breathing of the patient until a release is felt.

Lower extremitytoggle arrow icon

Lower extremity lymphatic pump

  • Position: supine
  • Procedure
    1. Apply a superior force that dorsiflexes the feet in a vibratory pattern, creating an oscillatory pump.
    2. Continue for 15–30 seconds.

Popliteal fossa release

  • Position: supine
  • Procedure
    1. Grasp the medial and lateral aspect of the popliteal fossa .
    2. Determine fascial restriction in each cardinal direction.
    3. Apply an anterior force with the fingertips and engage fascial restriction until the resistance is met.
    4. Continue until a release is felt.

Referencestoggle arrow icon

  1. Seffinger M. Foundations of Osteopathic Medicine. LWW ; 2018
  2. Destefano L. Greenman's Principles of Manual Medicine. Wolters Kluwer Law & Business ; 2015
  3. Nicholas A. Atlas of Osteopathic Techniques. LWW ; 2015

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