Effect of manual versus mechanical lymphatic drainage on total lymphocytic count in healthy subjects

Background: lymphocytes are a main component of the immune system, reaching an optimum level of lymphocytic count may improve immunity in healthy subjects or fasten recovery from diseases; therefore manual lymphatic draining effects were compared to mechanical lymphatic draining. Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate manual lymphatic drainage versus mechanical lymphatic drainage effects on total lymphocytic count in healthy subjects. Subjects: Forty five healthy individuals of both genders were conducted to this study, their ages ranged from 20 to 40 years old Participants were randomly alphabetically chosen and divided into three equal groups each group included 15 subjects. Methods: this study was conducted in Nasser institute hospital outpatient physical therapy department Cairo Egypt; Group A (Experimental Group A): Fifteen participants received mechanical lymphatic drainage Course 30 minutes segmentally. Group B (experimental group B): Fifteen participants received segmental manual lymphatic drainage course. Group c (control group c): Fifteen participants did not receive any treatment approach. lymphocytic count were measured before and after every week through 5 consecutive weeks by medonic cell counter in lab. Results: lymphocytic counts increased gradually from the 0-Day to 1st week through the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th week respectively in manual massage than mechanical massage and both than the control group. Conclusion: conducting manual lymphatic drainage increased lymphocytic count than that of mechanical drainage and both of experimental groups increased lymphocytic count than the control group of no drainage. Three sessions per week lymphatic draining for five consecutive weeks appeared to potentiate immunological improvements increasing circulating phenotypic lymphocytic markers. Manual lymphatic drainage technique may be an effective method for improving both patient and disease-oriented outcomes in relation to promoting immunity.