Eureka! Institutional Repository

The lymphatic system, just like the blood vessel system, transmits fluids all over the body. More specifically, it collects and transmits the superfluous amount of fluid (lymph) and other waste from the cells of the body and the tissues. Then, it returns the fluid back to the blood circulation. By doing that, it conserves the stability of homeostasis, it cleans the cells and helps in making the body immune to illnesses. Furthermore, the role of the lymphatic system as a guardian against pathogenic microorganisms should not be forgotten. Lymphaedema is every edema (swelling) on the upper or lower limbs of the human body which has occurred due to malfunctions of the lymphatic system. The predominance of the lymphaedema varies. The secondary lymphaedema has a higher frequency than the primary one. As far as the limbs are concerned, there is a higher likelihood of it occurring on the arm rather than the leg. The expressions “primary” and “secondary” are based on the reason behind the edema. A primary edema is a genetic anomaly, whereas a secondary edema is an acquirable deficiency of the lymphatic system. Kinesio Taping is a relatively new category of therapy. It was first developed by chiropractor and kinesiologist, Dr. Kenzo Kase. It is a method containing an elastic tape, made of cotton which has the same thickness as human skin. It keeps its effectiveness from 3 to 5 days, after which, replacement is suggested. The Kinesio Taping method is a rehabilitation method which is applied at the end of a physiotherapy session. It has been designed in order to facilitate the natural process of rehabilitation by providing support and stability to the muscles and joints without restricting the range of movement. It could be said that it is a kind of continuation of the movement of soft particles, in this way strengthening the beneficial results of the applied methods (manual therapy) during the physiotherapy session. It is especially effective in treatments of acute and lifelong edemas. The main idea is that the tape can mimic the massage of the lymphatic channeling as it has the ability to retain open the passage through which the lymph passes all throughout its application. At the beginning, the Kinesio Tape method was only used in athletes, but later on it started to be applied on patients who suffered from lymphaedema or other kinds of disruptions of the muscoloskeletal system. It is an additional therapeutic method, which combined with decompressing massage, compressive bandaging, and right position of the upper limb during the appropriate exercises, can result in a complete and safe therapy for lymphaedema.