Aloha … from BethCAdvance Physical Therapy now offering lymphedema treatment
RANDOLPH, Nov. 23, 2009 – Lymphedema affects hundreds of thousands of Americans. A condition that typically includes significant fluid retention and tissue swelling in the arms or legs, it is caused by a compromised lymphatic system.
It can be congenital, starting at birth or occur later in life, or it can be caused by an injury to the lymphatic vessels. Most commonly, women experience lymphedema in one of their arms following breast cancer treatments, including surgery, lymph node dissection and radiation.
For those women and others, lymphedema can be very difficult to live with, especially when limbs are extremely swollen, heavy and aching, and it is often irreversible.
There are treatment options to reduce swelling – sometimes significantly, however, including an option new to Advance Physical Therapy in Wilder.
Advance physical therapist Amy Chiriatti has earned certification and begun offering a low-intervention treatment for lymphedma called Complete Decongestive Therapy.
The therapy involves compression wrapping, or wrapping the swollen limb with layers of stretchable bandages, and manual lymph drainage, or gently rubbing the skin, to activate the lymphatic system.
Education and skin care are other components, with a goal of reducing symptoms to a point that the patient can manage their lymphedema at home by wearing elastic compression garments to maintain the edema reduction.
Chiriatti, who has been a physical therapist for eight years, took an intensive two-week class last month in Maine offered by Klose Training and Consulting to earn her special certification in Complete Decongestive Therapy. The class included 135 hours of work, a midterm, final, practicum and written exam.
“It’s a whole semester of physical therapist school crammed into two weeks,” she noted.
But Chiriatti said the work was certainly worth it.
“I feel really lucky to have the opportunity to provide this service to people. I think it’s going to make a significant difference in their comfort,” she said.
To inquire about this treatment for lymphedema, call Chiriatti at Advance Physical Therapy at (802) 295-7333. Advance Physical Therapy is in the Olcott Professional Building just off Route 5 in Wilder, Vt., beside White River Family Practice.