Swelling of the legs is a condition in which there is an excessive accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the lower extremities, most often in the area of the legs and feet. Their volume increases, which causes discomfort and pain. In a he althy person, swelling occurs when wearing uncomfortable, narrow shoes, standing for a long time, overheating the body, consuming excessive s alt.
In women, another reason is pregnancy, which greatly increases the load on the limbs. Also, while waiting for the birth of a child, the kidneys of the expectant mother begin to work in extreme mode, which provokes the appearance of severe edema. This is especially noticeable in the last months of pregnancy.
Fluid retention in the legs also occurs with heart or kidney failure, vascular diseases of the extremities, problems with the lymphatic system, inflammatory lesions of the skin, neoplasms and some other ailments. Therefore, with frequent, difficult to pass swelling, you needbe sure to undergo a medical examination. It is likely that a specialist will recommend a massage for swelling of the legs.
Advantages and contraindications
Massage is actively used in the complex therapy of swelling of the legs. The session reduces congestion in the tissues, normalizes the flow of blood and lymph in the vessels, improves the general condition and eliminates unpleasant symptoms. Great preventive value of massage. It strengthens the walls of blood vessels, preventing the development of varicose veins, one of the main causes of edema.
There are also contraindications. These include:
- febrile conditions;
- low blood clotting (in this case, there is a chance to get the approval of a chiropractor after passing the relevant tests and consulting a doctor);
- diseases of the cardiovascular system (only during an exacerbation);
- skin lesions in the area of edema;
- surgical interventions on the veins (at least six months after the operation, and in some cases a year or more);
- thrombosis;
- vascular atherosclerosis;
- malignant and benign tumors;
- menstruation and pregnancy (not an absolute contraindication in some cases);
- injuries of the lower extremities (until they are completely healed);
- mental illness (due to the possibility of inappropriate behavior of the patient during the procedure).
In old age, massage for swelling of the legs is allowed. This is notcontraindication or interference.
Classic massage
There are several types of manual effects used to treat and prevent swelling of the legs. The most common are: classic, lymphatic drainage, reflex. Only a doctor can determine which option is right for a particular patient.
It is better to entrust the procedure to a professional. Massage is best done in courses. To achieve sustainable results, 10-12 sessions are enough, repeated 2 to 4 times a year.
During a classic massage, the therapeutic effect is on the skin, muscles, fat layer, nerve endings, circulatory and lymphatic systems. There is a relaxation of the muscles of the legs, which helps to reduce swelling. Spasmodic phenomena in the blood and lymphatic vessels also disappear. Fluid circulation improves, which leads to its outflow and the disappearance of edema. In this case, the patient does not experience unpleasant pain.
How to do a massage for swelling of the legs?
First one limb is warmed up, then the other. The main direction of massaging movements is from the feet to the knees. During the session, the intensity of exposure gradually increases, but they should not cause pain.
Apply all four basic techniques of classical massage. The first is stroking, which is necessary to relax the muscles. Particular attention is paid to the feet due to the abundance of reflex zones located there. Strokingproduced by the palms and fingertips without pressure. As a result, the muscles relax, prepare for further more intense exposure. Massage for swelling of the leg below the knee should begin from the thigh area. Smoothly and gradually, the hands move towards the lower leg.
Second and third stages
Then intense rubbing is carried out, warming the skin in the massage area. It also accelerates blood circulation and lymph flow in the surrounding tissues. Several techniques are used: rubbing with straight hand movements, circular, spiral. The general direction continues to be maintained from the feet to the knees. At this stage, the skin in the places of exposure turns pink, there is a slight tingling and pleasant itching.
Massage with severe swelling of the legs is characterized by smoother rubbing, performed with rectilinear movements.
The next stage is intensive kneading of the muscles of the problem area. This is the most complex and responsible element of classical massage. The overall result largely depends on the quality of its implementation. Various methods of influence are used: kneading with the knuckles, grabbing the muscle with both hands and twisting it, and the like. After the session, there is a feeling of pleasant warmth and tingling in the muscles. Heaviness in the legs and discomfort, if they were before, disappear.
In conclusion, a light vibration effect is performed with the fingertips, soothing and relaxing the massage area. The total procedure time is 10-15minutes on each leg.
Lymphatic drainage
Designed to eliminate congestion in blood vessels. During the session, the masseur is focused on providing the maximum impact on the lymphatic system, without affecting the surrounding tissues. This leads to an acceleration of the movement of fluid through the vessels. Improves metabolic processes in the muscles. Toxins and excess fluid are removed from them and, as a result, puffiness is reduced.
Lymphatic drainage massage for swelling of the legs can be performed in two versions: superficial and deep. In the first variant, the impact is carried out on the capillaries and neuroreceptors of the upper layer of the skin. The main techniques are light circular stroking movements of the hands with simultaneous pressure on the passage areas of the lymphatic vessels. The impact is gradually transferred from the feet to the knees. The procedure takes quite a long time (20-30 minutes on each leg). As a result, spasmodic phenomena in the lymphatic vessels are eliminated, the movement of fluid through them is normalized. Due to this, the surrounding tissues get rid of excess moisture.
Deep Technique
With prolonged swelling of the legs, a more thorough and intense lymphatic drainage massage is performed. The technique remains the same: circular movements of the hands and pressure in the zones of projections of the lymphatic flows. However, the pressing force is increased to affect deep located large vessels and nodes. During the procedure, the blood flow to the massaged area increases, the tone increases. Excess fluid accumulated inintercellular space, begins to move intensively together with the lymph, which leads to a decrease in edema. Deep lymphatic drainage massage requires a good knowledge of anatomy to accurately influence the necessary areas of the system.
Pressotherapy, vacuum and microcurrents
In recent years, hardware lymphatic drainage massage has become very popular. Several of its varieties are known: pressotherapy, vacuum, endermology, microcurrents. The procedures are carried out with the help of special devices that act on the desired parts of the body with compressed air, small currents, or a combination of them. The purpose of the massage is the same - to remove congestion in the lymphatic system and speed up the removal of accumulated fluid. Procedures of hardware lymphatic drainage are comfortable for patients, as they are completely painless. The result is noticeable after 1-2 sessions. Before taking a course of hardware massage, you also need to consult a doctor.
Reflex action
It includes segmental, Chinese acupressure, Japanese shiatsu massage, Korean su-jok and a number of others. The impact is limited to small areas of the body, connected by nerve pathways with the internal organs and systems of a person. For example, fragments in segmental, biologically active areas in acupressure for swelling of the legs, shiatsu and su-jok. Such zones are called reflex zones. Such a massage normalizes the functioning of organs affected by diseases or injured, and helps to heal them.
Segmental and dotted
Useddifferent impact technique. Segmental massage is characterized by classical massage techniques: stroking, rubbing, kneading and vibration. With acupuncture, biologically active points are pressed with pads and knuckles (shiatsu), needles are inserted into them (acupuncture), and the heat of lit wormwood sticks (su-jok) is applied.
Reflex massage is a powerful remedy. Only after the establishment of the disease, which is the cause of the swelling of the legs, it can be used in the complex therapy of the disease. Massage is performed by qualified specialists. It is necessary to take into account individual intolerance to the procedure and possible contraindications.
