Does Lymphatic Drainage Help Lymphoedema After Breast Cancer?What 7 Reviews Found
Does Lymphatic Drainage Help Lymphoedema
- Written by
- MyoFitness Research Team
- Published
- Reading time
- 2 min read
- Year
- 2023
- Journal
- European Journal of Gynaecological Oncology
- Study design
- Overview of 7 systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- Lead author
- Xing W et al.
What the study looked at
Lymphoedema is long-term swelling that can develop when breast cancer surgery or radiotherapy affects the lymph nodes under the arm. It can cause heaviness, tightness, reduced movement and a higher risk of skin infection.
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a very light, rhythmic hands-on technique that aims to move lymph fluid towards areas draining well. This study pulled together existing reviews to see what the research says overall.
Instead of reviewing individual trials
Found the reviews
They identified seven systematic reviews or meta-analyses on MLD for breast cancer-related lymphoedema.
Rated review quality
Each review was rated with a standard tool called AMSTAR-2.
Rated the evidence
The certainty of each outcome was rated with the GRADE system.
What the results showed
The overall picture was cautious: MLD may help, but the evidence isn't strong enough to show how much it adds.
- 01
Might reduce swelling
Across the reviews, MLD might reduce lymphoedema volume, but the effect wasn't firmly established.
- 02
Unclear benefit on top of standard care
The authors couldn't recommend adding MLD to compression or complete decongestive therapy based on current evidence.
- 03
Clearer effect in younger patients
In one subgroup analysis, MLD reduced lymphoedema significantly in people under 60.
- 04
Mostly low-quality reviews
Only one of the seven reviews was rated moderate quality. The rest were low or critically low.
Key finding in plain terms
Manual lymphatic drainage might reduce swelling after breast cancer, but the research so far can't show a clear benefit on top of compression. Weak evidence isn't the same as no benefit; it means better trials are needed.
What this means for practice
This study fits the general view that compression and self-management are the foundation of lymphoedema care, and that MLD works best as one part of a full plan, not on its own.
MLD can still be valuable. Many clients find it helpful and comfortable, and a trained therapist combines it with compression, skin care, exercise and teaching clients to manage at home.
Clinical relevance by discipline
Lymphatic drainage
Position MLD within a full plan including compression, skin care, exercise and self-massage teaching.
Oncology massage
Work with the client's treating team and adjust for fatigue, scars, ports and skin sensitivity.
Myotherapy
Lymphoedema needs specialist training. Refer to a practitioner on the National Lymphoedema Practitioners Register if it's outside your scope.
Clients
Look for a trained lymphoedema practitioner, and keep your treating team informed about your care.
Limitations to be aware of
An overview is only as good as the reviews it includes, and most of those were rated low or critically low quality. Some outcomes were rated moderate certainty, but others were low or very low.
The underlying trials are often small and vary in how MLD was delivered, how long treatment lasted and what it was compared with.
Summary
Across seven reviews, MLD might reduce swelling in breast cancer-related lymphoedema, but its benefit on top of compression or complete decongestive therapy isn't established, and most of the evidence is low quality.
For therapists, this supports presenting MLD honestly as one part of a broader lymphoedema plan.
Full research paper
This page is a plain-language summary. The original paper holds the full methods, statistics and discussion.
Xing W et al. (2023). After Breast Cancer? What 7 Reviews Found. European Journal of Gynaecological Oncology, 44(1)(2023), 1 to 16.
DOI10.22514/ejgo.2023.001
Read the full paperLymphatic Drainage Massage is Available at MyoFitness
Find a qualified myotherapist or remedial massage therapist who works from the research, or write to us with a question about this study.
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