Background: Trained practitioners claim to identify the specific direction of superficial or deep lymphatic\ncirculation using a non-invasive technique called Manual Lymphatic Mapping (MLM). MLM is a recent advance in\nmanual therapy, a component of Lymph Drainage Therapy (LDT)/Osteopathic Lymphatic Technique (OLT).\nObjective: Assess the potential of trained practitioners to palpate superficial lymphatic flow.\nMethod: Each practitioner mapped the sole of the foot of a healthy volunteer, a region never previously studied.\nThe results of the mapping were compared between trained and untrained practitioners and physiologic lymph charts\nResults: Trained practitioners (n=393) provided significantly more correct mappings (correct answers = 245)\nthan untrained practitioners (n=411, correct answers = 11) (X2 = 329.54, p < 0.05), and OR = 60.20, p < 0.05.\nConclusion: Trained practitioners, but not untrained practitioners, mapped pedal flow by palpation, consistent\nwith standard physiologic lymphatic maps. Flow studies, by imaging in individual subjects mapped by palpation, must\nfurther test this finding.
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