by Deb Alter
At Eastwick Physical Therapy, it’s not just physical therapy. Mary Bradley, who owns the practice, is also a Lymphedema Certified Therapist. There are not too many of them in this area, so Bradley is a real asset to the Eastern Rensselaer region.
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Lymphedema therapists work with people who struggle with health issues related to the lymph system. Bradley took a comprehensive 135-hour course including hands-on training in order to become certified, and constantly updates her knowledge and skills through regular professional development.
The lymph system functions parallel to the circulatory system and consists of lymph vessels, lymph nodes, and lymphoid tissues. The most important role the lymphatic system plays is to absorb and transport large molecules (including protein and cellular debris) which are too large to be collected by veins and venous capillaries. This lymph fluid is then transported to lymph nodes. There, cells from the body’s natural defense system, called lymphocytes, help fight bacteria and viruses. Networks of the lymphatic system are situated in several areas of the body with a specific drainage pathway for each individual area.
Lymphedema is an abnormal collection of high-protein fluid just beneath the skin. This swelling, or edema, is most common in arms or legs, but may also occur in other parts of the body. It can develop when lymph vessels are damaged or lymph nodes are removed, often in cancer-related surgeries and treatments, but can also be present when lymphatic vessels are missing or impaired due to a hereditary condition. In other words, you can be born with it, or you can be stricken by it later in life. It can also be as a result of obesity.
In a person with lymphedema, the body experiences an inflammatory reaction resulting in scar tissue called fibrosis. The presence of fibrosis makes it even more difficult for the excess fluid to be eliminated from the area. As a result, the increased fluid and fibrosis prevents the delivery of oxygen and essential nutrients to the area, which in turn can delay wound healing and encourage bacterial growth and infection.
What Bradley does is is use special therapeutic techniques and equipment to help people who suffer from lymphedema. She employs specific massage and manipulation techniques that are gentle and specialized to help get the fluid in patients’ lymph systems flowing again. When the lymph system is not working properly, the fluid tends to flow downwards, and Bradley’s goal is to make it flow back up. She can also supply various “garments”, such as sleeves and stockings to help the lymph system function more as it should. Skin care is another part of what she does, helping her patients avoid or take care of infections that are the result of the lymphedema.
Exercise classes and traditional physical therapy techniques are available at her office for people with or without lymphedema. Bradley also teaches how to exercise correctly, so that participants can do them on their own, outside of her office. She also emphasizes the value of walking regularly for staying helathy.
One program she is particularly excited about is an anti-aging wellness class which is about gentle exercise and general wellness. It is for both women and men who want to stay active, mobile, and pain-free. The program is useful for people who are injured, have had recent surgery, are pregnant, overweight, sedentary, out of shape, or have limited mobility, suffer from chronic pain, have knee or hip replacements, or bone disorders. The exercises aid in areas such as balance and core stability, and improve posture, help get better sleep, and relief from pain, as well as reducing stress, increasing energy, and helping to lose extra weight. The Anti-Aging Wellness classes take place at the Eastwick Physical Therapy offices and are open to anyone every Tuesday and Thursday evening, with two sessions on each, 5:30 and 6:30 pm. The cost is $80 for eight sessions (which do not have to be taken on any specific schedule), or $12 per class. The classes are led by certified personal trainer Tracy Purdy-Martin.
Eastwick Physical Therapy and Physical and Lymphedema Certified Therapist is at 4976 State Route 7 in Hoosick, NY, next to Hoosick Tire. Bradley can be reached by calling 518-686-9008, or by emailing her at marybradleypt@gmail.com.[/private]