Planning to attend lymphedema training and ensuring that you have everything you will need when you arrive is an easy way to be able to attend the training without any last minute problems or issues.
Pre-Course Work
The top schools and training groups will have a lot of information about what to expect, which is very helpful to review before you sign up for the training. It will be essential to make sure you have your calendar cleared for all the training dates and that you can get any advanced work or pre-course work completed before the class actually starts. Courses will require students are in attendance 100% of the required time in order to earn their certification.
Some programs now offer the option for students to complete 45 hours of the 135 hours complete lymphedema certification program through pre-course home study. This part of the course focuses in on the basics of the lymph system, the development of the techniques, and more academic types of issues.
During the lymphedema training, the course facilitator will review these concepts, but the expectation will be that students will be up to speed on these topics before attending.
The Training
The actual training tends to be a good mix on most days of both academic or classroom type of learning combined with hands-on practice. Students will be encouraged to wear something comfortable as these will be long days, and you will have the opportunity to both work as a therapist as well as take the role of a patient.
Typically most programs recommend that students wear bathing suits or shorts and sports bras for women and shorts for men, under their day clothing. You will also typically be asked to bring sheets for draping as well as covering for the tables you will be using in the training room.
Many of the top courses will also provide opportunities for working on case studies, so current OT, PT or MT professionals may be asked to provide real-world scenarios, minus any identifying information, to be used in class discussion and activities.
These lymphedema training tend to have smaller cohort groups, and they provide a lot of time for the highly qualified instructors to provide one on one support and development of perfect technique. The time goes by very quickly in these classes and the busy days keep students motivated and engaged as well as actively learning the skills they will need to work directly with patients one the course is over.
