Legs swollen, heavy, difficult even to move or bend. The cause may be lymphedema, a stagnation of liquids that is not adequately drained by the lymphatic system and remains to ‘engulf’ the tissues, swelling them: it is a very widespread problem, in fact it is estimated that around 40,000 new ones occur every year in Italy cases, especially in women between the ages of 30 and 40 (Source: Rare Diseases Observatory).
 
The causes of lymphedema
The lymphatic system communicates with the cardiovascular system and is usually not noticed: the lymph is collected from the tissues in the lymphatic capillaries and drained away towards the venous circulation. The problems begin when the lymphatic system does not work properly and the lymphatic circulation in the limbs slows down: it can happen for congenital causes, which therefore lead to a malfunction of the lymphatic vessels, and in this case we speak of primary lymphedema. However, secondary lymphedema is much more common, linked to other causes, among which the most frequent are:

– a surgery for a tumor in which lymph nodes have been removed, for example in the axillary ones in case of breast cancer;
– venous insufficiency of the lower limbs;
– trauma;
– heart or liver problems.
 
How to treat lymphedema
In case of lymphedema, a decongestant and draining therapy can be implemented; in some cases, medications are required, associated with manual or mechanical methods for draining liquids. Among these, the icoone treatment is a valid opportunity because, thanks to the Multi Micro Alveolar Stimulation, the microstimulators present on the handpieces stimulate the skin allowing up to 21,600 microstimulations per minute, the tissues are oxygenated in depth by acting on the capillaries, the sympathetic nervous system and the lymphatic system. The treatment thus reactivates the vascular microcirculation, favoring lymphatic return and deflating the tissues with an immediate and lasting effect even on the most annoying symptoms of lymphedema, such as heaviness in the legs.