It’s estimated that 10 million Americans — and many more worldwide — suffer from a condition known as lymphedema — a swelling of various parts of the body caused by fluid blockage in the lymphatic system.
Like many health conditions, lymphedema and lymphatic blockage are the targets of various consumer products that claim to provide relief and improvement in symptoms. Devices that range from pumps to vibration plates can be bought and used by anyone, but do these products actually work? And what, if any, scientific basis is behind them?
Dan Geersen, a physician’s assistant at Duke University’s Vascular Surgery and Vein Center, says that there’s evidence to support the efficacy of these devices in some situations. But they aren’t the be-all and end-all of lymphedema treatment.
The Lymphatic System
According to Geersen, who is also the director of Duke University’s Multidisciplinary Lymphedema Clinic, the lymphatic system is a lot like a subway system.
