The Adelaide Lymphoedema Clinic

Clinic Information

Situated at 90 Fullarton Road, Norwood, South Australia, the Clinic is just 1 kilometre east of the Adelaide city centre. Here, patients are assessed individually and treated according to their condition, age and general state of health.

Complex Physical Therapy (CPT) is currently the most effective non-invasive and safest treatment of lymphoedema in the long and the short term worldwide. 

The treatment is not a cure for lymphoedema. There is no known cure. Treatment is designed to reduce the swelling, improve the lymphatic drainage and increase the mobility of the limbs, thereby relieving the pain, aching, heaviness, tightness and discomfort and improving the patient's well-being and ability to lead a normal life. The treatment also includes education of the patient about the nature of the condition and how best to live with the problem. (For more information on these procedures, see "What is the treatment for lymphoedema?").

At the completion of the treatment, patients are fitted with a compression garment in the form of a sleeve/glove or stocking to maintain the improvement gained from the treatment and control the oedema. The amount of improvement gained from the treatment varies, depending on a number of factors such as whether the lymphoedema is primary or secondary, the length of time it has been present, whether the oedema is soft or hard and the age of the patient. To date, the average reduction in oedema is in excess of 70% for both arms and legs.

Patients are re-assessed periodically and supplied with new compression garments. A further course of treatment is given if necessary.

The Adelaide Lymphoedema Clinic provides the following services:

Also available from the clinic are four informative publications specifically written for people with lymphoedema or who are at risk of developing lymphoedema. Click on one of the links below to find out more about that book.