IS SWELLING BAD?
As mentioned, swelling occurs as part of your body’s healing process, so it isn’t necessarily bad.
However, it can be a sign of other more serious health issues. Furthermore, too much swelling can interfere with the healing process or damage body tissue.
If you notice swelling, you can try at-home treatments.
If it persists or interferes with your mobility or ability to perform everyday tasks, you should make an appointment with your trusted healthcare provider.
HOW CAN I REDUCE SWELLING AT HOME?
You can take steps to reduce minor swelling at home.
Some of the most common ways to alleviate the issue include:
REST
If you have an injury like a sprained ankle or tendonitis, rest is one of the best ways to manage that injury at home.
Often allowing the injury to rest provides time for your body to heal, reducing your pain and swelling.
ICE
You can also apply cold therapy systems such as ice packs or ice baths to injuries.
Ice can constrict your smaller blood vessels and decrease blood flow. Ice can also provide relief by numbing the area.
COMPRESSION
A compression bandage, sometimes called elastic bandages or static or elastic bandages, can also help manage swelling.
For example, you can apply an elastic bandage to reduce ankle swelling if you roll or sprain your ankle.
Compression bandages work by restricting blood flow to the injured tissue.
ELEVATION
Elevating the swelling body part increases fluid drainage and reduces blood flow to the injured body part or inflamed tissue.
MEDICATION
Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also help you reduce swelling at home.
In addition to medication, supplements like magnesium can be helpful. You can reduce your water retention and pain by adding 200 to 400mg of magnesium to your diet.
However, if you have a kidney or a heart condition, speak to your doctor first, as it may not be advisable to increase magnesium with those conditions.
DRINK MORE WATER
Drinking plenty of water has many benefits, including reducing swelling.
It supports healthy circulation and lymphatic function, as well as kidney and urinary health.
EXERCISE
Exercise also has many benefits for your health and well-being. When it comes to reducing swelling, exercise specifically increases circulation and stimulates an anti-inflammatory response.
WHEN SHOULD I TALK TO A DOCTOR OR PHYSIOTHERAPIST ABOUT SWELLING?
You should make an appointment with a physiotherapist or physician if you have persistent swelling.
For example, the swelling might not subside with at-home treatment or get worse.
It could also return on a regular basis despite your efforts to reduce swelling at home.
HOW DOES A PHYSIOTHERAPIST REDUCE SWELLING?
There are several ways that a physiotherapist can help to reduce your swelling, including the following:
MODALITIES
A modality is a type of energy used to cause a physiological change. Physiotherapists may use electrical, thermal, or mechanical energy in treating an area.
For example, electrical energy may be used to stimulate the rhythmic contraction of the muscles.
This enhances the musculoskeletal pump, which helps to reduce the tissue fluid in the affected area.
THERAPEUTIC EXERCISES
A physiotherapist can help you with exercises aimed at stretching and strengthening the muscles in the affected area.
These exercises will help increase venous and lymphatic flow, moving the excess fluid away from the body tissue.
PATIENT EDUCATION
Physiotherapists can help you to re-educate your body posture.
This is one way to help maintain a reduction in body swelling. Also, understanding body mechanics can help keep the swelling down.
Those with lymphedema are more susceptible to skin infections. Physiotherapists can advise you on skin and nail care to help you avoid these.
MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE (MLD)
An effective way to reduce swelling is to use MLD.
It has the added benefit of improving the healing process and increasing lymph flow, aiding the removal of harmful toxins from tissues, reducing swelling, and re-routing fluid from congested areas.
The treatment feels like a massage and is relaxing as well as therapeutic.
If you have concerns about persistent or uncomfortable swelling and want to learn how to reduce your swelling, call Maiden Lane Medical in Manhattan, NY or schedule an appointment with our physiotherapy team today.
Medically Reviewed By
Kate Zhang, DPTBoard Certified Pelvic Physical Therapist
