Pressotherapy and Oncology – When Is It Recommended?
Many people ask us about the role of pressotherapy before, during, and after cancer treatment. What do Hungarian doctors say? In this article, we present the expert consensus: when pressotherapy is recommended, when it is not, and how it can support your health—based on the latest Hungarian medical literature and clinical experience.
Pressotherapy for a Strong, Healthy Body
Maintaining a healthy lymphatic system is crucial for overall well-being and resilience. Regular pressotherapy sessions can:
Stimulate lymph flow, helping the body remove excess fluids and metabolic byproducts.
Support immune system function and reduce chronic inflammation—a known risk factor for many diseases, including some cancers.
Complement efforts to maintain a healthy weight and active lifestyle, both of which are associated with a lower risk of cancer.
“Regular physical activity can reduce the incidence, mortality, and recurrence rates of tumors. During muscle contraction, beneficial cytokines are produced, creating an anti-inflammatory environment.”
— Bender Tamás et al., Daganatos betegek fizioterápiája – narratív összefoglaló és szakértői vélemény, 2025
While no single therapy guarantees cancer prevention, supporting your lymphatic health—together with a balanced diet, exercise, and stress management—helps keep your body strong and lowers risk factors.
Pressotherapy in Oncology Rehabilitation
After cancer treatment, especially surgery or radiation, many patients develop lymphedema (swelling due to lymphatic fluid buildup). Hungarian oncology centers, including Semmelweis University, use both manual and automated (mechanical) lymphatic drainage as part of comprehensive rehabilitation for cancer survivors.
“Both manual and automated lymphatic drainage are used in the complex rehabilitation of oncology patients, especially for the treatment of lymphedema.”
— Semmelweis University Oncology Center[sem1]
Pressotherapy (intermittent pneumatic compression) is recognized as an effective, safe, and evidence-based method for reducing swelling, improving comfort, and restoring mobility after cancer treatment.
“Compression therapy represents the cornerstone of all treatment modalities in these disorders and recent reports demonstrated compression-related systemic cardiovascular effects.”
— Szolnoky Győző, University of Szeged, 2023
When Is Pressotherapy Not Recommended?
It is important to note that pressotherapy is not recommended during active cancer treatment(such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy), or in cases of active malignancy. This is to avoid the theoretical risk of stimulating the spread of cancer cells through the lymphatic system. The use and timing of pressotherapy should always be decided individually by the patient’s medical team.
“In the past, physical therapy was completely contraindicated in cancer patients. Many doctors are still conservative regarding this issue… The use of physical therapy is established jointly by the patient, doctors and health professionals.”
— Bender Tamás et al., 2025
Manual vs. Apparatus-Based Lymph Drainage: What Do Doctors Say?
Hungarian experts highlight that while manual lymph drainage has been widely used for over a century, its measurable benefits are not consistently supported by clinical studies. Apparatus-based (mechanical) pressotherapy offers standardized, reproducible results and is increasingly favored in modern rehabilitation.
“According to the latest evidence-based physiotherapy handbook (Bizonyítékokon alapuló fizioterápia, Bender Tamás, Medicina, 2017), there is no evidence for the effectiveness of manual lymph drainage itself, let alone for ‘lymph gate opening.’ Manual drainage is still used for lymphedema because ‘it is customary to do so.’ The method was ‘invented’ in 1903 and has been done this way ever since, despite the lack of measurable results in medical studies.”
— Bender Tamás, Bizonyítékokon alapuló fizioterápia, 2017
Key Takeaways
Pressotherapy is a valuable method for supporting lymphatic health and overall wellness—even for those without a cancer diagnosis.
It is a well-established part of oncology rehabilitation, helping manage lymphedema and improve quality of life after cancer treatment.
Apparatus-based (mechanical) lymph drainage is often preferred over manual methods for its reproducibility and evidence-based results.
Pressotherapy is not recommended during active cancer treatment; always consult your doctor or physiotherapist to determine the best approach for your individual needs.
Combined with a healthy lifestyle, pressotherapy helps keep your body strong and resilient, lowering risk factors for many diseases.
References
Bender Tamás et al.: Daganatos betegek fizioterápiája – narratív összefoglaló és szakértői vélemény. Magyar Onkológia 69:80-88, 2025 ([PDF])
Bender Tamás (ed.): Bizonyítékokon alapuló fizioterápia. Medicina, 2017 ([PDF])
Szolnoky Győző et al.: A nyiroködéma, a zsírödéma és a vénás lábszárfekélyek kezelési lehetőségeinek legújabb vonatkozásai. BVSZ, 2023 ([PDF])
Semmelweis University Oncology Center: Lymphoedema rehabilitation