Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Singapore

Written by Zita Sham, Fairuuz Saleh and Shiv Mohan Banka, Principal Physiotherapists at Phoenix Rehab.Clinically reviewed by Louise Yow, Principal Physiotherapist and Director, AHPC A1300363H.Last reviewed 28 September 2026.

Manual lymphatic drainage is a very light, slow, rhythmic technique that moves fluid along the lymph channels under the skin. The pressure is closer to stroking than to massage, and people who expect a deep tissue appointment are usually surprised by how gentle it is.

The lightness is the point. The lymph vessels that do the work sit just under the skin and collapse under firm pressure, so pressing harder moves less.

What it is for

Swelling that the body is struggling to clear. After hand or limb surgery, after a fracture, and in longer standing lymphoedema where lymph nodes have been removed or damaged. In a post surgical hand it is used to shift the protein rich fluid that otherwise organizes into scar and takes range with it.

It is not a treatment for pain, it is not a detox, and it does not replace movement. Muscle contraction remains the main pump in a limb and always will be. Manual drainage clears a path and reduces the load; the hand does the rest.

What an appointment involves

The sequence starts away from the swelling rather than on it, clearing the channels and nodes nearer the trunk first so there is somewhere for the fluid to go. Then the work moves progressively out towards the swollen part. It is slow, repetitive and usually relaxing, and it is normally combined with compression afterwards, because fluid that is moved and not held tends to come back.

In a hand, it is combined with elevation, a compression glove or Coban, and a movement program. That combination is what does the work. Any one of them alone is considerably less effective.

When it is not appropriate

Active infection in the limb, particularly cellulitis, which shows as a hot spreading redness and needs a doctor rather than a therapist. Acute deep vein thrombosis or a suspicion of one, where calf pain, swelling or breathlessness need same day medical review. Uncontrolled heart failure, because moving fluid back into circulation adds load. And any undiagnosed swelling, which is worth having looked at before it is treated.

What to expect from it honestly

It helps, it is comfortable, and it is one component. The measurable question is whether the limb is smaller, and the way to answer that is circumference measured at set points or volume by displacement, taken the same way each visit. If nobody is measuring, there is no way to know whether the appointments are doing anything, and that applies wherever you have them.

Swelling work sits in Stage 1, Calm and Protect, of the Phoenix Recovery Protocol. Appointments are 45 minutes, one to one, $230 nett, no GST. On its own, with Estelle Goh at Orchard and Serangoon, manual lymphatic drainage is $160 for 45 minutes.

Where are you with this right now?

1. It is settling on its own

Most injuries and most flare-ups settle over weeks with sensible load management and a return to normal movement. Improvement is judged over a month, not over a day, and good days and bad days inside that are usual. If you are doing more this month than last, and sleeping better, it is behaving the way it should. You do not need us for this, and we would rather say so.

2. It has stopped improving

You have adapted without noticing. The other side takes the load, you plan movements you used to make without thinking, and you have quietly dropped things you used to do.

Pain is the first thing to leave. Movement and strength are the last things trained back, and most people stop before that part is done. That is the gap worth measuring, and it is not measured by how you feel on the day.

The Stalled Recovery Review is three appointments over three weeks with the same therapist, because what a joint does under load cannot be read in one visit. The first finds what is limiting it. The next two measure how it responds. $690, nett, no GST, which is three appointments at $230.

3. You have had surgery, or you have a date

Recovery after an operation has a shape, and knowing which stage you are in tells you whether you are on it. See the recovery programs, hand and physiotherapy, or the four stages and what each one works on if you are not sure which applies to you.

All of it runs on the same four stages. The Phoenix Recovery Protocol explains what each stage works on and what you have to meet to move up. No referral needed to start.

Next step

Find out which stage you are in

Pain is the first thing to leave. Movement and strength are the last things trained back, and most people stop before that part is done. One Assessment and Treatment is a single 45-minute appointment at $230, nett, no GST. Your therapist finds what is actually limiting you, treats it in the same appointment, and you leave with your current stage and a written plan.

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Prefer to phone? Each of our five clinics has its own number on the clinics page. No referral needed to book.

What our patients say

Google reviews from our clinics in Singapore.

       
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   Micah 
 34 days ago
 
 
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Amazing experience with Phoenix Rehab, was assisted by Mavis. She’s very kind and professional and did thorough check on my wrist. I feel very comfortable during the process.

I went in for thermoplastic splint, and everything went smoothly. She was able to address my needs on my left wrist sprain.

They were prompt with appointment process and inquiry. Also the clinic is very close to Tanjong Pagar MRT. I highly recommend!
  
 
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   Chiky Phan 
 38 days ago
 
 
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Fist time doing ultrasound for my tennis elbow!! Let’s hope it gets better the next few weeks!! Thank Mavis Tham!!
  
 
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   XIN WANG 
 55 days ago
 
 
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Great treatment from my therapist. My painful wrist felt a lot of relief after the session. I’m glad I can slowly get back to doing my usual activities without constant pain.
  
 
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   Abby Lee 
 71 days ago
 
 
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Very helpful and friendly !
  
 
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   雪梅Cui 
 109 days ago
 
 
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The masseur is very professional and provides excellent service ，yati is very good!
  
 
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   Tra Nguyen 
 200 days ago
 
 
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I wasn’t able to close my fingers due to an injury. Nurul at Phoenix Rehab has helped me tremendously with my recovery process. I have been able to resume my daily activities and exercises after only a few sessions. Nurul has been very professional and positive throughout the entire process. Thank you so much for your help!
  
 
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   Juzer K 
 238 days ago
 
 
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Huge shoutout to Yuna Zhang from Phoenix Rehab for helping in my recovery from golfer’s elbow 🙌

I walked in with persistent elbow pain that was affecting workouts and everyday tasks, and Yuna immediately made me feel confident I was in the right hands. She took the time to properly assess my condition, explain the root cause, and tailor a treatment plan to my specific needs instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach.

What I really appreciated was how personalised every session felt. The exercises she gave me were practical, easy to follow, and actually worked. Within a short time, the pain reduced significantly and my strength and mobility improved much faster than I expected.

On top of that, the pricing is very reasonable and affordable, which made committing to recovery much easier.

Professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely caring — highly recommend Yuna at Phoenix Rehab if you’re dealing with hand-related sports injuries 💪
  
 
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   Fazal Hanafi Chaudhry 
 322 days ago
 
 
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I enjoy coming to Phoenix rehab as they offer a wide variety of services. I had a finger accident and was working with a very experienced hand therapist. Place is clean and comfortable.  Staff were friendly and appointment was on time
  
 
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   Stella Yam 
 463 days ago
 
 
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Very good
  
 
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   Juliana 
 465 days ago
 
 
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Have both physio n Tcm visits here, highly recommend!
  
 
 
  
 
 
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