Is manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) recommended for my child?
Short answer
For children
Some kids get a gentle massage called MLD, which can feel relaxing — but it works best combined with your other treatments, not on its own.
For parents & caregivers
MLD may help some children feel more comfortable, but it works best as part of a full treatment plan rather than on its own.
Some kids get a gentle massage called MLD, which can feel relaxing — but it works best combined with your other treatments, not on its own.
For parents & caregivers
MLD may help some children feel more comfortable, but it works best as part of a full treatment plan rather than on its own.
Learn more ›
MLD is a gentle massage technique that may be used as one part of Complete Decongestive Therapy. Many children enjoy it, as it's relaxing and can improve comfort and body awareness. However, current scientific evidence is limited — there are no high-quality clinical trials showing that MLD alone significantly reduces limb volume or changes the long-term course of paediatric lymphoedema. For this reason, MLD should not replace compression, exercise, skin care or self-management, which remain the foundation of treatment. When recommended by a specialist, it may be useful for selected children, particularly combined with the other parts of CDT.