Self Administered Massage to Lymphoedema of the Arm Information for patients Breast Care Team Phone no: 01625 663079 Macclesfield District General Hospital www.eastcheshire.nhs.uk @eastcheshirenhs Ref: 11006 Review: 04/2016
Introduction This leaflet contains instructions on how to massage your arm if you have lymphoedema. You will have been shown how to do these exercises at the Lymphoedema Clinic. REMEMBER Be comfortable and well supported Massage should be slow, gentle and rhythmical Do not make the skin go red Do not stroke the skin, use your hands to provide enough pressure to move the skin against the underlying tissue To be effective, massage should take at least 20 minutes and be performed twice a day, morning and evening. Remove your lymphoedema sleeve Preparation 1. ABDOMINAL BREATHING Resting fingers just below the rig cage, breast in slowly and deeply, allowing fingers to rise as tummy swells Hold for a count of 2, and then breathe out slowly and evenly through the mouth Use your hands to gain extra pressure to breathe in again (i.e. gently push down with fingers as you breathe in).
2. MASSAGING THE NECK a) With little finger just touching the ear lobe, move the fingers back and down and then release. b) Move fingers one finger width down and repeat back and down and then release. c) Cross your arms so that the fingers rest just behind the collar bone. Move the fingers down towards the collar bone then in towards the neck and then release. Repeat stages a, b and c 3 times 3. MASSAGING THE UNAFFECTED AXILLA (ARMPIT) Place hands so that the fingers rest in the armpit of the unaffected side. Move your hand directing the movement towards the back, and up and then release. REPEAT 15 times 4. MASSAGING THE SIDE OF THE CHEST WALL Move your hand so that it now rests on the side of your chest wall (approximately 4 finger widths down from the armpit). Move the skin towards your back and up towards your armpit and then release.
5. MASSAGING THE CHEST a) Working close to the unaffected armpit, place your hand on the front of the chest. Gently move hand up and across towards the unaffected armpit. b) Gradually move towards the affected side, always directing fluid towards the unaffected armpit. REPEAT 10 times at the centre of the chest where lymph flow has to be redirected. c) REPEAT 5 moves close to the swollen arm, always directing fluid across to the unaffected armpit (You may need to change arms at this point). 6. a), b) and c) a little lower down the chest. 7. MASSAGING THE AFFECTED SHOULDER Place your hand over the top and towards the back of your shoulder. Move your hand back and up towards the neck (away from the unaffected armpit) Move your hand down so that the hand rests on top of the arm, above the end of the sleeve, and repeat the same movement as above. 8. MASSAGING THE AFFECTED ARM Remember the traffic light system. Start at the top of the arm moving slowly down the arm in small sections, massage up towards the shoulder. Then one final sweep downwards.
9. ABDOMINAL BREATHING Complete the massage with abdominal breathing (as in No 1). If you have any queries please contact the Breast Care Team on 01625 663079 Comments, compliments or complaints We welcome any suggestions you have about the quality of our care and our services. Contact us: Freephone: 0800 1613997 Phone: 01625 661449 Textphone: 01625 663723 Customer Care, Reception, Macclesfield District General Hospital, Victoria Road, SK10 3BL For large print, audio, Braille version or translation contact Communications and Engagement on 0800 195 494. Admission information The trust accepts no responsibility for the loss of, or damage to, personal property of any kind, in whatever way the loss or damage may occur, unless deposited for safe custody. Please leave valuables at home. If you need to bring personal items that are expensive, for example micro hearing aids, please be aware that you do so at your own risk East Cheshire NHS Trust is committed to ensuring that patients and staff will always be treated with dignity and respect. There will be no age, disability, gender, race, sexual orientation or religious discrimination NHS Direct (part of NHS Choices) is a 24 hr phone advice service providing confidential health advice and information. Phone: 0845 4647 (Textphone 0845 606 46 47) www.nhs.uk