Abstract
Complex physical therapy（CPT）is a classical conservative treatment for lymphedema that is widely used in Europe. The basic elements of CPT are used in various combinations according to each patient’s needs. They consist of techniques that move excessive accumulations of interstitial and lymph fluid（due to a transport disorder of the lymphatic system）to a healthy part of the body’s drainage system. CPT is recognized as the standard therapy for lymphedema by the International Society of Lymphology. In Japan, there is an increasingly high demand for CPT as a therapy for lymphedema after cancer surgery or radiotherapy. CPT has a wide range of indications and exhibits promising effects against edema due to chronic venous insufficiency, traumatic edema, and edema associated with extensive skin damage after traffic accidents or burn injuries. In Germany, one of the leading countries for CPT is employed for a wide range of purposes. It would be desirable if it could be used to treat venous diseases or in orthopedics in Japan in the future, too.
