O Mundo da Saúde (Apr 2020)

Effectiveness of manual lymphatic drainage with or without the use of functional bandaging on pain, fatigue and edema of the lower limbs in pregnant women: clinical, controlled and randomized trial

  • Alexandre Delgado,
  • Diego Luis de Queiroz Araújo,
  • Rita de Cassia Barros da Silva,
  • Jamilly Ingrid de Souza Lima,
  • José Igor da Silva Pereira,
  • Iza Paula de Deus e Mello Albuquerque Arruda,
  • Catarina Rattes

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 44
pp. 217 – 228

Abstract

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The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of manual lymphatic drainage with and without the use of functional bandaging in pain, fatigue and edema of lower limbs in pregnant women. This was a pilot study of a clinical, controlled and randomized trial. The sample consisted of 30 pregnant women in their second and third trimester. Group 1 (G1), performed 10 manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) sessions, group 2 (G2) performed MLD and made use of the functional bandage (FB) on the lower limbs. The control group (CG) participated in 10 meetings with pregnant women promoted by the UNIFACOL Academic League of Obstetric Physiotherapy. Perimetry was used to assess edema of the inner limbs and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain and fatigue. There was a significant improvement in edema, pain and fatigue of the lower limbs when the groups that performed interventions were compared with the CG (p <0.001). From the popliteal line to the ankle, there was a tendency towards less edema in G2, but without any significant differences when compared to G1. MLD with and without the use of FB reduces pain, fatigue and gestational edema in the lower limbs. All pregnant women were satisfied and would recommend MLD with or without the use of FB.

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