Manual lymph drainage is an
integral part of lymphoedema treatment. It is a gentle massage
technique and has different purposes: stimulating resorption of
lymph by the lymph capillaries, increasing lymph transport from
the hand to axilla by existing lymph collaterals, and creating
lymph collateral pathways between the arm and trunk and
between both axillas (that is, the Mascagni pathway and
axilloaxillary anastomoses).18