The Lymphatic system... What every human needs to know: ⠀
Your Lymphatic system (green on this vid) is a body wide “micro waste disposal” system of vessels and organs (lymph vessels, lymph nodes, tonsils, spleen and thymus), which carry and move lymph fluid. ⠀
Unlike your blood vessels, your lymph system doesn’t have a heart/ pump to move lymph fluid
Our bodies reply on muscle contraction to pressurise the vessels and move the fluid through a genius system of one-way valves. Yet another system in the body that relies on us exercising regularly and in a variety of ways!⠀
Blood and Lymph work together to provide nutrients + remove waste
Fluid from circulating blood leaks into the tissues of the body by capillary action, carrying nutrients to the cells.
The fluid bathes the tissues as interstitial fluid, collecting waste products, bacteria, and damaged cells, and then drains as lymph into the lymphatic capillaries and lymphatic vessels. ⠀
The lymphatic system then moves the fluid back towards the heart, filtering the waste products out on the way.
Cleaned lymph fluid eventually re-enters the blood stream via the subclavian veins. ⠀
Massage/ Manual therapy can help to move Lymph fluid, especially a techniqe called Manual Lymphatic Drainage.
In fact, positively influencing the flow of blood, lymph and interstitial fluid is considered to be one of the main mechanisms which makes massage therapy so efficacious.
Although most methods of massage therapy will have some positive effect, a special technique called “Manual Lymphatic Drainage” has been developed, which focuses solely on pushing Lymph through it’s vessels so that the body can process it.
Here at The Muscle Mechanics, Stacey Harris is our Lymphatic Drainage specialist. Manual Lymphatic Drainage treatment is great for all people but especially:
Athletes wanting to increase the speed of soft tissue recovery and performance (increase the speed of waste products getting out of tissues and nutrient getting in)
People suffering from swelling or oedema
People that have had surgeries which effect the Lymph system, especially those that have had Lymph Vessels or Lymph Nodes removed
People that have/ have had cancer and other illnesses or conditions (and medical treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) which increase the demands on the bodies fluid flow and waste disposal systems.
Key Takeaways:
For our muscles, organs and every other part of our body; it is vital to have great fluid flow for nutrients to get into tissues and waste products to get out.
Because a key part of fluid flow in the body is driven by exercise (muscles pressurising the Lymph system), it is essential that we get varied movement throughout the day every day.
Most modern humans don’t move as much as we are designed to, so would benefit from more movement like our hunter gather ancestors.
Stagnant lymph means a buildup of cellular waste, damaged cells, dead bacteria and other waste, and could even be a huge underlying factor in many modern diseases.
Massage, especially Manual Lymphatic Drainage can also help!