Aqua Lymphatic Therapy – Tidhar Method
A training program (in English) from Dorit Tidhar (M.Sc., PT, ALT, CLT)
Dates to come

Centre d’entraînement aquatique universitaire, MontréalALT

Dorit Tidhar was trained in lymphedema therapy by Prof. Judith Casley-Smith in 1999 and was certified by her as a teacher in Self Management and Exercise for Lymphedema in 2003. She designed the program of Aqua Lymphatic Therapy to help people who suffer from lymphedema maintain and improve the results of conventional treatment and conducted an RCT to examine this method. Dorit is an active member of the steering committee of the Israel Lymphatic Therapy Interest Group of Physiotherapists. She is Currently in charge of the national lymphedema services of Maccabi healthcare. Dorit is in her 4rd year of PhD Studies and will be conducting a practice-based evidence research on lymphedema.

Program Summary

Course Prerequisite: Certification and practice in Combined Decongestive Therapy (CDT) (CLT) and passing an online pre-test on the material that will be sent 1 month prior the beginning of the course.

 

Prior the course, presentations on YouTube of approximately 30 min each are required in the subjects of:

  • Anatomy – specifically initial lymphatics
  • Treatment of lymphedema – outcomes of studies on CDT and its components
  • The maintenance phase – the Trans theoretical Model and studies on the maintenance phase
  • Exercise and lymphedema
  • The physical forces of the water and physiological responses to water immersion and water exercise
  • Quality of life and lymphedema
  • Hydrotherapy for orthopedic swelling
  • Measurement issues in lymphedema management

Links to above lectures will be posted on YouTube and delivered to the participants 1 month prior to the course and an online exam will be required with a passing grade of 70. A link to the exam will be sent 2 weeks prior to the course. No participant will be allowed to begin the course without submitting the exam.

Course objectives: The therapist will be able to implement the principles of the aqua lymphatic therapy with a group of lymphedema patients, while assessing the impact of the treatment on each patient and thereby tailoring programs to the individual. The therapists will be able to train their patients in aqua lymphatic therapy for self management of lymphedema.

Day 1

AM: Introduction, review on home material, principles of Aqua Lymphatic Therapy. ALT for arm lymphedema.

PM: Pool practice session – arm lymphedema.

Day 2

AM: Measurement workshop, research of ALT, Alt for leg Lymphedema.

PM: Pool practice session – leg lymphedema. And arm lymphedema routine.

Day 3

AM: Clinical reasoning in Aqua Lymphatic Therapy include working on the excel program that designed for evaluation the ALT results (immediate and long term). Individual therapy thoughts and ideas; how to combine the aqua lymphatic therapy with conventional treatment and creating a group.

PM: Pool practice session arm and leg lymphedema routine.

Day 4

AM: Theoretical examination on course principles and material, case studies.

AM: Pool practice session – Arm and leg lymphedema routine, advanced exercises. Practical exam and creating your own exercises according to ALT principles.

Notes:

  • On the 3rd day we will work on computers, please see that you have a lap top available. If not, please notify us and we will arrange one or find you a partner.
  • For the pool sessions, you will need: goggles, swimming cap, and a clipboard.
  • The program is subject to changes.

For further information and registration, please contact Marie-Claude Gagnon
514-979-2463, 1 866 979-2463 or aql@infolympho.ca