Course Description

Welcome to our course on lymphedema management for rehabilitation professionals. As you may know, cancer and its treatment is the leading cause of secondary lymphedema. As a rehabilitation professional, it is invaluable to recognize and differentiate secondary lymphedema resulting from cancer, chronic venous insufficiency, and trauma. While this course is rooted in cancer-related lymphedema, the principles, and practices covered can be applied across multiple settings, such as orthopedic clinics, sports medicine practices, and long-term care facilities. Overall, this course can help you improve patient outcomes, stay up-to-date with current guidelines, enhance your professional skillset, and expand your patient base. The course covers:

  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Pathophysiology encountered with injury and disease
  • Signs/symptoms of lymphedema
  • Differential diagnosis
  • Current evidence-based precautions and prevention
  • Screening, management, and referral


Please note, this is not a lymphedema certification program, it is an introduction to lymphedema screening and management.

Course curriculum

  1. 1

    • Chapter 1 - printable materials

    • Role of lymphatics in the immune, circulatory, and integumentary system, primary and secondary lymphedema: causes, signs & symptoms, staging and specifics in the oncology population

    • Chapter 1 Quiz
  2. 2

    • Chapter 2 - printable materials

    • Conservative treatment: (CDT) Complete Decongestive Therapy -the “gold standard of care”, surgical advancements and options

    • Chapter 2 Quiz
  3. 3

    • Chapter 3 - printable materials

    • Diagnostics, screening, assessment, and prevention

    • Differential diagnostics: pictures & identification of: lymphedema including breast, and palliative care, LE venous insufficiency, wounds, phlebolymphedema, lipidemia, arterial insufficiency, dependent, & post-op edemas

    • Chapter 3 Quiz
  4. 4

    • Chapter 4 - printable materials

    • Special consideration: Q&A for risk reduction and precautions with the oncology population

    • Differential Diagnosis Identification Quiz

    • Chapter 4 Quiz -Pictures and integration of screening for a differential diagnosis: oncology lymphedema, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), phlebolymphedema, & cellulitis

    • Course Evaluation

    • Lymphedema Principles for Every Clinician References (printable)

Instructor

OTR/L, CLT, CLWT

Lisa Marshall

With more than 33 years of healthcare experience, Lisa has focused primarily on oncology for the past 28 years. In 2002, she founded Specialty Rehabilitation Inc. (SRI), where she developed and provided oncology programs and services -- prehabilitation through palliation -- for all cancer types. Lisa's areas of expertise include the management of breast cancer, oncology lymphedema, cancer-related fatigue, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, cancer-related cognitive impairments, cancers of the head and neck, and oncology pelvic floor dysfunction. She is lymphedema certified, a national presenter, and a regular presenter at major healthcare institutions and universities. Today, SRI provides oncology education and consulting for; individual healthcare professionals, cancer centers, community hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, and home care agencies.

Course Objectives

  • Identify two contributing factors to lower extremity and upper extremity lymphedema which requires additional screening and referral.

  • Identify two key components of evaluation necessary for documentation of therapy progress.

  • Identify two lymphedema precautions for individuals with active cancer and history of cancer respectively.

  • Identify symptoms of active infection given a patient scenario.

  • Identify contraindications to lymphedema treatment given a past medical history of a patient with history of cancer and multiple comorbidities.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Physical Therapists and PTA's

This course has been approved by the Maryland and Texas State Boards of Physical Therapy Examiners for 0.3CEUs (3.0 contact hours)

Maryland #2022-838 - Expires 09/06/2026

Texas #76428TX - Expires 09/01/2024

The course content and objectives meet criteria approval within the following states and/or the approving agency/board indicates it will accept continuing education courses approved by another state APTA chapter or regulatory board:  Alaska, Arizona, Alabama,  Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts,  Michigan, Mississippi,  Missouri, New Hampshire,  Nebraska,  North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia,  Wisconsin, Wyoming and Washington.

Occupational Therapists and OTA's

This continuing education program has been approved by the Maryland Board of O.T. Practice for 0.3 CEUs (3.0 contact hours). #2022:0075 - Expires 06/30/2023

Our current policies and standards meet criteria for approval within the individual state and/or grants reciprocity with the following states: 

Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, California , Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virgina, Wisconsin and Wyoming.  

Individual state boards and/or organizations may change their practice act/rules and regulations at any time. It is ultimately the responsibility of the licensee to confirm that the course meets criteria for contact hour approval.

Frequent Asked Questions

  • Who is this course for?

    This course is designed for OT's, OTA's, PT's, PTA's who work in a variety of settings, such as orthopedic clinics, sports medicine practices, long-term care facilities, and oncology.

  • What is the course format?

    The course content is delivered through a combination of self-paced learning modules, quizzes and case studies.

  • What are the certificate requirements?

    To earn a certificate of completion you must complete the self-paced curriculum, achieve 80% or better on all quizzes, and complete the course evaluation. After all requirements are met you may download your certificate.

  • Will I obtain a (CLT) Certified Lymphedema Therapist Certification

    No, this course is not a CLT course. It will provide you with the principles and practices needed to effectively screen, recognize when to refer, and to educate patients on risk factors.

  • My state is not listed under approved CEUs, what should I do?

    Continuing Education requirements are complicated and often change. Please check our CEU section for specifics. If you do not see your state listed, please either check with your individual state for reciprocity or contact us directly: info@specialtyrehab.net