17/09/2026
Massage good, Compression even better!
For people with moderate to advanced leg lymphedema, properly applied compression may be doing most of the work when it comes to reducing swelling.
A recent randomized study compared compression bandaging alone with compression plus manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) over four weeks.
Leg volume decreased by about 19.7% with compression alone and 22.2% with compression + MLD — with no significant difference between the groups.
This does not mean manual lymphatic drainage has no value. The study was small and focused specifically on Stage 2–3 lower-limb lymphedema. But it is a good reminder that effective rehabilitation should be based on evidence, not simply on adding more treatments.