Lymphedema: An Overview for Physical Therapists

Course overview

Lymphedema is a chronic, incurable, and debilitating disease. For a therapist to treat the clinical presentation of lymphedema requires additional training and certification. However, physical therapists often treat patients with lymphedema for other impairments, and it is important to understand the impact of lymphedema on the course of care. This course will introduce physical therapy professionals to their role in effective patient management. Learners will identify the early signs and symptoms of lymphedema, the interaction of lymphedema with clinical presentation and progression, when to refer a patient to a specialist, and how to introduce or reinforce patient self-management techniques.