top of page


MLD vs Pressure Massage: Which One When?
A field that was dominated by Swedish and Sports Massage when I entered, has expanded into a sophisticated array of bodywork specialties. Today, remedial and allied health professionals embrace a suite of modalities to address complex physiological needs. Some techniques, such as Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) and Myotherapy, have moved from niche postgraduate studies to mainstream clinical essentials. New clinical groups have also emerged, reflecting the growth in medical aesth

Jan Douglass PhD
Apr 29 min read
Â
Â
Â


The Cost of NOT doing MLD in Phase 2 Lymphoedema Management.
Discover the non-negotiable role of Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) in the lymphedema maintenance phase. This article explores the consequences of neglecting MLD, focusing on the decline in health-related quality of life and the limitations of compression-only care, advocating for MLD as a vital, active component of long-term management.

Jan Douglass PhD
Mar 27 min read
Â
Â
Â


Pain, Itch, and Inflammation; Why You Want to Scratch that Healing Scar
Skin is meant to be touched
It's natural for us to touch, hug and stroke those we love. These caring actions don't just maintain our social networks, they are rooted in biological processes which ensure the skin remains healthy, and that immune reactions favour would healing and tissue repair. MLD Therapists can harness this dynamic interaction to deliver treatment strategies that promote healing, improve patient outcomes, and foster overall well-being.

Jan Douglass PhD
Aug 2, 20256 min read
Â
Â
Â


Elastic Taping; A Non-Drug Therapy with Potential to Prevent Chronic Post-Op Neuropathic Pain.
Although most surgical wounds will heal well, almost half will result in persistent post-surgical pain, with as many as 40% of post-op patients reporting symptoms consistent with neuropathic pain.
Physiologically different to usual post-surgical pain which resolves naturally as tissue healing progresses, neuropathic pain is a complex and often misunderstood condition that may persist long after wound healing has occurred, and can significantly reduce quality of life (1,2)

Jan Douglass PhD
May 9, 202511 min read
Â
Â
Â


Wound Healing, Tissue Repair and Scar Formation; How Early Application of MLD Improves Visual and Functional Outcomes for Almost Everything
Explore how Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) promotes wound healing through lymphangiogenesis, improves tissue repair, and reduces chronic wound

Jan Douglass PhD
Feb 7, 20257 min read
Â
Â
Â


Breaking the Cycle of Inflammation with MLD, Effective Drug-free Therapy for Symptom Management in MCAS.
As the prevalence of MCAS rises, there is an increasing demand for supportive therapies to manage symptoms and reduce the inflammatory load,

Jan Douglass PhD
Dec 19, 202411 min read
Â
Â
Â


The Unique Innervation of Facial Skin: Why MLD Facials are So Good.
The unique structure and innervation of the facial skin contributes to specialised functions such as facial expressions and sensory percepti

Diane Lacey
Oct 10, 20245 min read
Â
Â
Â


The Crucial Role of Mechanical Forces in Wound Healing and Scar Minimisation
mitigating excess scar formation is of paramount importance in allied health care, and MLD and Elastic Taping are two of the most effective

Jan Douglass PhD
Aug 9, 20245 min read
Â
Â
Â


Why does MLD have such a profound effect on the Autonomic Nervous System?
Almost 50 years ago Prof. Dr. Paul Hutzschenreuter measured the effect of Dr Vodder's MLD on the sympathetic nervous system, noting a signif

Jan Douglass PhD
May 13, 20245 min read
Â
Â
Â


Is it really fibrosis? Or is it thixotropic tissue change?
I had an email recently from a therapist who described her client as having deep #pitting_oedema and heavy #fibrosis. Technically this is not possible. If the tissue is truly fibrotic then it really doesn't pit much any more. But in many ways they look and feel the same. So what is the difference and how can you tell which is which? The #loose_connective_tissue is a complex and fascinating part of our bodies. Since every cell in your body relies on it for nutrient supply and

Jan Douglass PhD
Aug 14, 20185 min read
Â
Â
Â
bottom of page
.png)