Healing Points by Denise

💜 LIPEDEMA vs. LYMPHEDEMA
SAME TOOL. DIFFERENT CONDITION. DIFFERENT GOAL.

💦 PART 3: EXERCISE & MOVEMENT

We just talked about compression.

But what happens when we add MOVEMENT?

Something pretty remarkable.

Your lymphatic system doesn't have one central pump like the heart.

Instead, lymph movement is supported by several mechanisms—including the intrinsic contractions of lymphatic vessels themselves, breathing, changes in tissue pressure and the movement of your muscles and joints.

That makes movement an important part of managing BOTH lymphedema and lipedema.

💙 WITH LYMPHEDEMA

When muscles contract, they create changing pressures within the tissues.

When appropriate compression is worn during movement, those muscles contract against the resistance of the garment or bandaging.

That combination can help support fluid movement and lymphatic transport.

This is one reason exercise is an important component of Complete Decongestive Therapy.

And exercise doesn't have to mean running a marathon.

Depending on the individual, it might include:

🚶 Walking
🧘 Gentle mobility
🏋️ Progressive strengthening
🚴 Cycling
🫁 Breathing exercises
💦 Aquatic exercise

The goal is movement that is safe, sustainable and appropriate for that person.

💗 WITH LIPEDEMA

Exercise cannot simply “burn off” lipedema tissue.

But that does NOT mean exercise isn't important.

Movement can help support:

• Strength
• Joint stability
• Mobility
• Cardiovascular health
• Muscle pump activity
• Weight management
• Functional independence
• Overall health and quality of life

And for someone living in a painful or heavy body, finding movement that actually FEELS GOOD matters.

Which brings us to one of my favorites...

💦 THE SWIMMING POOL.

Here is where things get really interesting.

Water creates HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE.

The deeper you go, the greater the pressure.

At deeper chest-level tissues, that external pressure can approach roughly 80–90 mmHg depending on depth and position.

Think about that.

Instead of pulling on a garment that compresses one particular area...

🌊 WATER SURROUNDS THE BODY.

And because hydrostatic pressure increases with depth, the legs experience greater pressure than areas closer to the surface.

In other words, the pool creates a naturally changing pressure gradient.

Now add:

🚶 Walking
🦵 Leg movement
💪 Arm movement
🫁 Deeper breathing
❤️ Cardiovascular activity

…and you've created a very interesting environment for fluid movement AND exercise.

💜 FOR LYMPHEDEMA

Aquatic exercise may combine movement with external hydrostatic pressure, making it a useful exercise option for some people.

💗 FOR LIPEDEMA

Water also provides buoyancy.

That means less loading through painful joints while still allowing the muscles to work.

For someone experiencing heaviness, tenderness, reduced mobility or joint discomfort, the pool may provide an opportunity to move in ways that are much more difficult on land.

And you don't necessarily have to SWIM.

Walking.

Marching.

Heel raises.

Gentle squats.

Arm movements.

Side stepping.

Even simply moving through chest-deep water can be exercise.

💦 THE WATER BECOMES PART OF THE TREATMENT ENVIRONMENT.

But just like everything else in this series, exercise needs to be individualized.

The best exercise isn't necessarily the hardest exercise.

It's the movement you can safely perform, tolerate, progress—and continue doing.

✨ SAME TOOL.
DIFFERENT CONDITION.
DIFFERENT GOAL.

NEXT UP:

🥗 NUTRITION & WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Can you lose weight if you have lipedema?

Can losing weight help lymphedema?

And perhaps the biggest question of all...

👉 If lipedema tissue is resistant to traditional weight loss, does nutrition still matter?

YES.

But probably not for the reasons many people have been told.

That's where we're going next.

Lymphatic Restoration Therapy™

Hope you have a wonderful day

I will be closed Tuesday

THE ILLNESS MAY BE OVER…BUT YOUR BODY MAY STILL BE RECOVERING.

Fatigue. Achiness. Stiffness. Heaviness. Swelling. Reduced activity.

Sometimes we are no longer acutely sick, but we don't quite feel like ourselves yet.

During an illness, the immune system becomes highly active. Inflammatory signaling increases, immune cells respond, and the lymphatic system participates by transporting fluid, proteins, immune cells, antigens, inflammatory mediators, and cellular material through the tissues and toward lymph nodes.

And then there's something much simpler:

When we're sick, we don't move very much.

We spend more time in bed or sitting. We walk less. Muscles contract less frequently. Our normal activity and breathing patterns change.

Movement, muscle contractions, joint motion, and changes in pressure associated with breathing all provide mechanical assistance to lymphatic transport.

So after an illness, the question becomes:

Could gentle lymphatic support have a role during recovery?

For some medically stable individuals—particularly when swelling, heaviness, reduced mobility, or an existing lymphatic condition is part of the picture—MLD may be considered as one component of recovery.

It may help support fluid transport, comfort, relaxation, and a gradual return to movement.

But there is a VERY important distinction:

🚨 MLD AFTER an illness is different from MLD DURING an active illness.

If you have a fever, acute systemic illness, cellulitis, or another active infection, MLD should generally wait.

The body is actively responding to the illness. We don't want to manipulate an infected area or intentionally increase fluid transport from tissues affected by an acute infection.

The priority is to identify and appropriately treat the illness first.

There isn't a magic number of days before MLD can resume.

Instead, look for recovery:

✓ Fever has resolved
✓ Acute infection has resolved or is being appropriately treated
✓ You are medically stable
✓ There are no unexplained new symptoms or swelling
✓ Activity is being tolerated appropriately
✓ Medical clearance has been obtained when necessary

And MLD is only one piece of the recovery puzzle.

Rest. Hydration and nutrition appropriate to your needs. Gentle movement. Breathing. Gradual return to activity. Medical management when needed. And lymphatic support when appropriate.

MLD isn't treating the virus or bacteria that made you sick.

It isn't “detoxing” the illness from your body.

It is potentially supporting the tissue and fluid environment as your body recovers.

💙 Acutely ill? Treat the illness first.
Recovering and medically stable? Then lymphatic support may have a place.

This is another topic I'm exploring in my upcoming article:

Inflammation and the Lymphatic System: Can Manual Lymphatic Drainage Help?

Have you ever received MLD during recovery from an illness? I'd love to hear what you noticed.

🍠🌿 ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FRIDAY: Roasted Sweet Potato & Chickpea Power Bowls

Who says anti-inflammatory eating has to be boring?

This week we’re going colorful, crunchy, creamy and plant-powered with a bowl that brings together roasted sweet potatoes, crispy chickpeas, quinoa, fresh greens, avocado and a creamy lemon-tahini dressing. 💜💚🧡

This is the kind of meal I love because you're not relying on one “superfood.” You're combining a variety of whole foods, healthy fats, fiber, herbs and spices into one delicious meal.

🍠 ROASTED SWEET POTATOES & CHICKPEAS

• 2 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed or peeled and cubed
• 1 can chickpeas, drained, rinsed and dried well
• 1–2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon turmeric
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Small pinch of sea salt

🥗 FOR THE POWER BOWLS

• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• 2 cups baby spinach or chopped kale
• 1 avocado, sliced
• ½ cup shredded purple cabbage
• ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
• Fresh parsley or cilantro
• Optional crumbled feta
• Fresh lemon for serving

🍋 CREAMY LEMON-TAHINI DRESSING

• ¼ cup tahini
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 small garlic clove, finely grated
• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
• 2–4 tablespoons warm water
• Black pepper
• Pinch of sea salt

👩‍🍳 LET’S MAKE IT!

Preheat your oven to 425°F.

Toss the sweet potatoes with a little olive oil, smoked paprika, turmeric, cumin, garlic powder, black pepper and a touch of salt.

Toss the chickpeas separately with a little olive oil and the same seasonings.

Spread everything on a large sheet pan, giving the ingredients some room so they roast instead of steam.

Roast for approximately 25–30 minutes, tossing halfway through. You want tender, caramelized sweet potatoes and chickpeas with a little crunch.

While they're roasting, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and maple syrup or honey. Add warm water one tablespoon at a time until the dressing is creamy and pourable.

Now comes the fun part…

🥬 Greens
🌾 Quinoa
🍠 Roasted sweet potatoes
🧆 Crispy chickpeas
💜 Purple cabbage
🥑 Avocado
🎃 Pumpkin seeds
🌿 Fresh herbs
🍋 A generous drizzle of lemon-tahini dressing

Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon and a sprinkle of smoked paprika.

🌿 WHY THIS BOWL?

🍠 Sweet potatoes provide fiber, carotenoids and other micronutrients.

🧆 Chickpeas bring plant protein and plenty of fiber.

🫒 Extra-virgin olive oil & tahini provide predominantly unsaturated fats along with beneficial plant compounds.

🥬 Colorful vegetables and greens give us a variety of phytonutrients rather than relying on one particular food.

🎃 Pumpkin seeds add magnesium, zinc, protein and unsaturated fats.

🌾 Quinoa adds whole-grain goodness, fiber, minerals and protein.

One of the simplest principles behind an anti-inflammatory eating pattern is also one of my favorites:

🌈 PUT MORE COLORS ON YOUR PLATE.

Different plant foods provide different nutrients and phytochemicals, so variety matters.

And when your dinner looks this good, eating the rainbow isn't exactly a hardship. 😋

Save this recipe for later and let me know if you make it!

Call or text 806.789.0200 to schedule your appointment today
Massage is so important 🩷

Call or text 806.789.0200 to schedule your appointment this week
Availability this week:
Tuesday at 4
Thursday at 3