Abstract
Lymphedema is difficult to cure completely once it occurs. However, its proper diagnosis in the early stage of occurrence, and conservative treatment suitable for affected extremities can stabilize symptoms. Conservative treatment of lymphedema includes daily life guidance, and skin care, manual lymph drainage, compression therapy and exercise therapy for affected extremities, but there is little high level evidence-based literature examining the efficacy of each treatment. Although there is a lot of literature showing the efficacy of compression therapy, inappropriate compression therapy led to worsening of symptoms in some patients. Although therapeutic efficacy of manual lymph drainage alone is considered to be insufficient, upper extremity lymphedema in the early stage of occurrence improves with manual lymph drainage alone in some patients. The efficacy of skin care and exercise therapy in affected extremities is difficult to evaluate, but lymphedema whose aggravating factors are repeated inflammation in affected extremities and obesity is likely to be prevented from worsening by control of extremity inflammation and body weight through daily life guidance. Because the conditions of the affected extremities differ among patients, clinical experience is important for treatment selection.
