Documented Benefits

The last twenty years of clinical research has shown the many benefits of participation in an individualized, structured, and directly supervised exercise program for cancer survivors. These programs have focused on strength and aerobic training, as well as structured stretching exercises programs.

These programs documented:

INCREASED:

• Bone Density, Muscle, Cartilage, and Tendon Tissue Health

• Oxygen Consumption & Aerobic Fitness

• Functional Mobility & Range of Motion

• Muscle Strength, Endurance & Power

• Lean Muscle Mass & Energy Level

• Joint Mobility & Flexibility

IMPROVED:

• Blood Pressure & Resting Metabolism

• Balance & Movement Coordination

• Sleep Patterns & Quality of Sleep

• Cognition & Memory Function

• Self-Esteem & Quality of Life

DECREASED:

• Depression & Anxiety

• Generalized Fatigue

• Shortness of Breath

• Body Fat Percent

• Body Mass Index

Program Success: Successful outcomes are only achieved from full commitment to the program regarding attendance and effort participation. Our history has shown that those participants who commit to, and complete, the program have achieved measurable improvement 100% of the time. Every client who has completed this program was able to demonstrate measurable improvement that has propelled them to better health and longevity, as well as quality of life.

Advanced Lymphedema Care

Lymphedema is the development of swelling, or edema, of a limb (arm/leg) or trunk region that is a common side effect of cancer-related treatment.  Surgery or radiation therapy performed on the axillary lymph nodes increases the risk for arm, trunk, or breast edema.  Similarly, surgery or radiation therapy performed on the inguinal lymph nodes increases the risk for leg, pelvis, and groin edema.  This edema, now referred to as Lymphedema, can occur immediately, many months later, or even years after cancer treatment has been completed. 

Advanced Technology: The ability to identify the early onset and presence of lymphedema is critical to achieving the best clinical outcomes.  Our practice is the ONLY treatment facility that utilizes both the LymphaTech 3-D Imaging and the LymphScanner technology to identify and measure the early onset and severity of edema & lymphedema.  These unique and powerful assessment tools are currently the most advanced medical technology available today that provides a non-invasive assessment of the presence of edema in any body region.  This advanced technology has been proven to be superior than both the L-Dex and Perometer devices in more accurately assessing the early presence of edema & lymphedema.  

Complete Decongestive Therapy

Comprehensive Edema Management

Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) is considered the Gold Standard of Care for the treatment of lymphedema.  We are the ONLY facility in San Diego that provides all elements of CDT treatment intervention. Each treatment session ranges from 60-90 minutes in duration and all treatment is provided by Dr. Tammy Mondry. Every treatment session includes Skin / Nail Care, Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD), Compression Bandaging and Therapeutic Exercise. Complete Decongestive Therapy consists of two distinct phases of lymphedema treatment: The Treatment Phase (Phase I) and the Maintenance Phase (Phase II).

Treatment Phase: The Treatment Phase (Phase I) consists daily, five days per week treatment that includes skin / nail care, Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD), progressive compression bandaging, and therapeutic exercises. The Treatment Phase is a minimum of two weeks duration, which may be extended up to four weeks depending on the severity of lymphedema present, Weekly reassessments are performed to evaluate the percent of reduction from treatment intervention.

Maintenance Phase: The Maintenance Phase (Phase II) consists of life-long self-care to maintain the size of the limb upon completion of the Treatment Phase. Life-long care includes self-Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) techniques, skin and nail care, use of compression garments worn during waking hours, self-compression bandaging at night (if necessary) and the consistent performance of a home exercise program.

Future Treatment: Upon successful completion of the Treatment Phase, a final assessment is performed utilizing both the LymphaTech 3-D Imaging and the LymphScanner to provide the post-treatment baseline of limb girth and volume. Future treatment recommends that LymphaTech 3-D Imaging and LymphScanner reassessments occur every three months for the first two years post-treatment, progressing to reassessment once every six months thereafter.

Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) techniques and multi-layered compression bandaging are extremely successful treatment interventions for generalized edema that results from other causes. Edema can develop from surgical intervention (such as orthopedic, plastic, vascular, and wound care surgeries) as well as from other health conditions such as Congestive Heart Failure or Pulmonary Edema. Edema can be either “pitting” or “non-pitting”, and both forms of edema respond extremely well to treatment intervention.

Often, many patients report experiencing acute or chronic edema in the legs due to other causes. If this describes your situation, please consider obtaining a referral from your physician to our Comprehensive Edema Management Program.