MLD Improves Venous Flow and Swelling — Walking Adds Even Greater Strength Benefits

This study looked at whether adding light aerobic exercise (like regular walking) to manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) would help people with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) more than MLD alone.

They found that manual lymphatic drainage significantly improves blood flow, reduces swelling, and enhances quality of life in chronic venous insufficiency, and adding regular walking further boosts calf strength and overall exercise capacity.

What they did:

Participants were split into two groups:

• One group received MLD only (5 days a week).

• The other group received MLD + walking exercise (30 minutes, 3x weekly).

Both groups did this for 6 weeks.

Researchers measured things like blood flow in the legs, inflammation, swelling in the tissues, calf strength, ability to exercise, and overall quality of life.

What they found:

Both groups improved, showing that MLD by itself:

• Improved blood flow in the major leg veins

• Reduced swelling in the tissues

• Lowered certain inflammation-related markers

• Improved quality of life

Adding aerobic exercise did NOT make these particular improvements better — meaning MLD alone already created these positive effects. However, the group that added walking did show extra benefits:

• Stronger calf muscles

• Better exercise capacity (they could walk farther and do more)

From the paper:

“Conclusions: Since positive effects of MLD on venous flow, edema, and QoL have been found, MLD can be used in physiotherapy programs for CVI. Adding aerobic exercise to MLD is an effective treatment for CVI by increasing calf muscle endurance and exercise capacity, in addition to these positive effects.”

Source: Lymphatic Research and Biology via PubMed