Lymphatic drainage: what you need to know

Are you suffering from swollen joints after a workout? Or, recovering from an injury or surgery? Lymphatic drainage might help you recover faster. 

Read on to learn how lymphatic drainage works, the benefits of it, whether it can be incorporated into your post-workout recovery, and how it differs from remedial massage.

What is lymphatic drainage?

A working lymphatic system is crucial for maintaining a healthy body. The system acts as a kind of filter for your body, aids your immune system, keeping your body’s fluid balance right, and helping to absorb fats and nutrients. 

Lymphatic drainage is a treatment that helps stimulate your lymphatic system. The stimulation moves built-up fluid from your muscles and body tissues, to the lymph nodes where they can be naturally absorbed into the body. 

Lymphatic drainage benefits

Lymphatic drainage has the potential to deliver a range of health benefits, which can improve your overall wellbeing. Lymphatic drainage benefits can include:

• stress reduction,
• better circulation.
• reduced swelling and fluid retention, and
• improved immune system response.

Lymphatic drainage vs. remedial massage

Getting a massage is notorious for relaxing your body and helping our overall wellbeing. When performed by a professional-trained masseuse, a massage can alleviate the symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress. Even a one hour massage can lower your cortisol and release serotonin at the same time.  

There are many types of massage treatment available, each offering different results. It can get confusing determining which one’s right for you and how often you should get one.

Before considering lymphatic drainage as a recovery option, you should compare it to another popular therapeutic massage: remedial massage. Comparing each recovery method will help you determine which is right for you and your body. 

Unlike lymphatic drainage, a remedial massage is a deep-tissue massage that's focused on preventing muscular, joint, and tendon issues. Remedial massages are more versatile as the target and aid different needs. When used in tandem with other medical treatments, like lymphatic drainage, you can really maximise your recovery.

How lymphatic drainage impacts performance and recovery

While lymphatic drainage might not be the most popular post-exercise recovery method, when it is performed by a trained professional, it can help heal injuries and bring you back to action in no time. 

Studies have shown that lymphatic drainage techniques can also improve post-exercise muscle regeneration and reduce the risks of future injuries in high-performance sports. 

So, the next time you're wondering what to pair your spa, pool or sauna recovery session with, consider booking a lymphatic drainage massage. Trust us, you'll love it!

Don’t rush your recovery

One of the worst thing you can do after a workout is skip your recovery. Listen to your body, give it time to unwind and choose a recovery option that's right for you.

Whether it's an infrared sweat session after a workout, or a soak in a hot spa, Virgin Active's Rest and Recovery facilities have something for everyone.