Manual Lymph Drainage

    Emil and Estrid Vodder, Danish physical therapists practicing in France, developed Manual Lymph Drainage techniques in the 1930's. They carried out much investigation on the lymph vessel system and developed a series of light, rhythmic manipulations in order to stimulate lymph flow and fluid movement.

    Encouraged by their success with patients, they developed a systematic approach to treatment of the entire body which they called 'Manual Lymph Drainage'. Later, they established the Dr. Vodder Center in Denmark and began teaching their method throughout Europe. They designated Hildegard and Günther Wittlinger in Austria to be their successors and to teach and to train teachers in this method.

      In 1971, the Wittlingers established the Dr. Vodder Schule in Walchsee, Austria - now an internationally recognized study center for the method. They brought the Dr. Vodder method to North America in the 1970's and established the Dr. Vodder method as the premier lymphatic drainage technique. The Dr. Vodder School - North America was established in 1994 to meet the growing demand for properly trained MLD/CDT therapists.

     The Vodder Center, Denmark and the Dr. Vodder Schule - Austria have authorized the Dr. Vodder School - North America as the only school in North America to teach the original Dr. Vodder method of Manual Lymph Drainage. The director, Robert Harris, began his training with the Wittlingers in 1983 and lectures internationally on the Dr. Vodder method of Manual Lymph Drainage.