This page explains, in general terms, the modalities and equipment our therapists use. It is written for information only: it describes how each modality is generally understood and used in recovery and wellness settings, and it does not claim or guarantee any specific outcome for any individual. Always follow your surgeon's or physician's post-operative instructions, and treat this page as background reading rather than medical advice.
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD)
Manual lymphatic drainage is a light-touch massage technique developed in the mid-20th century (commonly associated with the Vodder method) and taught today as part of licensed massage and physiotherapy curricula. It uses slow, rhythmic, low-pressure strokes intended to work with the direction of lymphatic vessels, which sit just beneath the skin.
The lymphatic system is the body's secondary circulatory network: a web of vessels and nodes that carries lymph fluid, filters it through lymph nodes, and returns it to the bloodstream. Unlike blood, lymph has no central pump (no equivalent of the heart) and instead relies on muscle movement, breathing, and external stimulation to keep moving. This is the general physiological basis practitioners cite for manual techniques that aim to support lymphatic flow, particularly during periods when normal movement is reduced, such as after surgery.
MLD is widely taught and used following procedures where tissue swelling is expected, and is a standard offering in post-operative and rehabilitation settings internationally. Technique, pressure, and duration are adapted to the individual and the stage of recovery by the treating therapist.
Pneumatic compression therapy
Pneumatic compression uses an inflatable garment (a boot, sleeve, or bodysuit) connected to a pump that inflates and deflates in sequence, applying rhythmic external pressure to a limb or region. Sequential compression devices of this kind are common in both clinical and post-operative rehabilitation settings, and in sports recovery, as a way of applying consistent, controlled external pressure that is difficult to replicate by hand alone.
Our therapists use medical-grade sequential compression equipment, calibrated to appropriate pressure settings for the client and stage of recovery.
Infrared sauna blanket
An infrared sauna blanket uses infrared heating elements to warm the body directly, rather than heating the surrounding air as a traditional sauna does. Infrared wavelengths (near, mid, and far infrared) penetrate the skin's surface and are a widely used modality in wellness and spa settings for gentle, whole-body warming.
This is offered at Hanavi as a standalone wellness session, or in combination with compression therapy. It sits outside the post-operative protocol track and does not require a lymphatic-specific credential to deliver, though it is always administered by a trained attendant.
Percussion and equipment-led recovery
Our equipment-led Recovery Session combines percussion therapy (handheld percussive massage devices, sometimes called massage guns), pneumatic compression, and infrared, delivered in sequence by a licensed therapist. Percussion devices deliver rapid, targeted mechanical pulses to soft tissue and are commonly used in sports recovery and general soft-tissue maintenance.
LED light therapy
LED light therapy exposes skin to specific wavelengths of visible and near-infrared light, typically in the red and near-infrared range, via a panel or mask. It is offered at Hanavi as a 20-minute add-on to any appointment.
Safety, screening and contraindications
- Every client is screened before a first booking is confirmed. Screening covers procedure type and date, relevant medical history, and any conditions that may make a modality unsuitable.
- Certain conditions and situations (including, but not limited to, active infection, unhealed incisions without surgeon clearance, deep vein thrombosis or a history of clotting disorders, and pregnancy) may mean a session is postponed or a modality adjusted. Your therapist will discuss this with you directly.
- For post-operative clients, we ask for your surgeon's clearance before your first session, and we follow any specific instructions your surgeon provides.
- Equipment settings (pressure, heat, intensity) are adjusted per client and are never applied at a fixed default regardless of individual circumstances.
This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects how these modalities are commonly described in professional and clinical literature. It is not medical advice, and it does not guarantee or imply any specific result for any individual. Please consult your surgeon or physician with questions about your own recovery.