Vodder vs Földi vs Chikly lymphatic drainage

Vodder, Földi and Chikly are three schools of manual lymphatic drainage. Vodder is the original 1930s method built on a set vocabulary of gentle circular strokes, Földi grew out of Vodder and folded it into complete decongestive therapy for lymphedema, and Chikly's Lymph Drainage Therapy teaches therapists to feel and map the direction of lymph flow. The one trial that compared two methods head to head found no difference, so for medical swelling look first for lymphedema certification and experience, and treat the method name as secondary.

Therapist profiles in lymphatic work often read like a list of surnames: Vodder, Földi, Chikly, Casley-Smith, Leduc. They are schools, not separate treatments, and they share more than they differ. Knowing what each one emphasizes helps you read a profile, but it should not be the deciding factor on its own.

Three schools, one family tree

All three move lymph with light, slow, skin-stretching strokes toward working lymph nodes. The differences are in history, vocabulary and emphasis.

	Vodder	Földi	Chikly
Origins	Developed by Emil Vodder in the 1930s	An offshoot of Vodder, from the German school linked to the Földiklinik	Lymph Drainage Therapy (LDT), directed by Bruno Chikly, MD, DO
Signature emphasis	A set vocabulary of strokes: thumb circle, stationary circle, pump, scoop and rotary	Vodder-style strokes with a period of increased pressure followed by relaxation, plus an encircling stroke	Attuning to the rhythm, direction, depth and quality of lymph, and mapping its flow
Main home	Healthy lymph flow, swelling, lymphedema	Complete decongestive therapy for lymphedema	Lymph, interstitial and synovial fluid; manual lymphatic mapping
Training structure	Online Level I theory, Level I practical, Level II applied MLD, Level III lymphedema	MLD and complex physical decongestion therapy courses	LDT1, LDT2 (manual lymphatic mapping), LDT3, and a lymphedema certification (CLTC)

The descriptions of Vodder’s and Földi’s strokes come from a 2023 review in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. The same review notes that Földi uses similar hand movements to Vodder and adds the encircling stroke to help reduce edema.

What each training involves

Training depth varies far more within a school than between them.

• Vodder. The Dr. Vodder School lists 167 classroom hours if a therapist takes all of its courses: an online Level I theory module, a four-day Level I practical, a four-day Level II applied MLD course and a nine-day Level III lymphedema course. Massage therapists need at least 500 hours of prior training to enrol. A therapist with “Vodder Level One” has the foundation; one who has completed Level III has trained in lymphedema treatment.
• Földi. The Földischule says it has trained more than 50,000 therapists since the early 1980s in manual lymph drainage and complex physical decongestion therapy. Its link to the Földiklinik, which treats more than 6,000 lymphology patients a year, keeps the training rooted in lymphedema care.
• Chikly. The Chikly Health Institute teaches LDT in levels. LDT2 is built around manual lymphatic mapping, where the therapist learns to feel which way lymph is moving before deciding where to direct it. Its lymphedema credential is the Chikly Lymphedema Therapy Certification (CLTC).

Does the method change the result?

The limited evidence says the method matters less than doing it well. A randomized trial of 30 women with grade 3 cellulite after thigh liposuction compared the Vodder method with the Casley-Smith method, each with bandaging, three times a week for eight weeks. Both groups improved significantly, with no significant difference between them, and the authors concluded that any MLD technique could be recommended for that problem.

That is one small trial in one situation, so it does not settle every comparison. It fits with what the National Lymphedema Network describes in its 2025 position paper: whichever school, MLD works through a gentle working phase that increases lymph formation and a relaxation phase that lets vessels refill, with pressure adapted to tissue texture (firmer for fibrotic tissue, lighter for softer tissue) and a sequence that starts proximally, near the trunk, and progresses outward. Those principles are shared across all three schools. Our page on pressure, rhythm and direction in MLD explains them in more depth.

What to look for instead of a method name

For medical swelling, certification matters more than lineage. The NLN notes that lymphedema training programs require a minimum of 135 hours of education and that, ideally, people seeking lymphedema treatment should see a Certified Lymphedema Therapist. A practical checklist:

• For lymphedema or lipedema: a CLT, from any of the schools above or another recognized program
• For swelling after surgery: lymphatic training plus experience with garments, drains and fibrosis
• For general well-being or puffiness: any well-trained MLD therapist; the school is a matter of style
• For everyone: a health history at the first visit and honest answers about what the session can do

When to check with your doctor first

All three methods share the same cautions. The NLN lists acute infection, decompensated congestive heart failure and acute deep vein thrombosis as contraindications to MLD. See your doctor before booking if you have signs of an infection, a known or suspected blood clot, or heart failure that is not well controlled, and tell your therapist about any cancer treatment or surgery. Our page on who should not have lymphatic drainage massage has the fuller list.

The methods on Renu’s team

Our team trained across all three schools. Our founder, Meeghan Mackenzie, RMT, built her foundation in the Vodder and Földi methods between 2011 and 2014, completed advanced training at the Chikly Health Institute, and is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist through the Academy of Lymphatic Studies. Leah Buschau, RMT, holds Vodder Level One MLD training. In practice this means a session at Renu may borrow Vodder’s strokes, Földi’s decongestive structure and Chikly’s attention to flow direction, chosen for your body rather than for a brand.

Classic lymphatic drainage massage is 30 minutes ($95), 45 minutes ($105) or 60 minutes ($130), booked through Jane. For lymphedema, Meeghan’s complete decongestive therapy is the right starting point. The team page lists each therapist’s training if you would like to choose by name. If you want to read about a single school in depth, see the Vodder method, the Földi method or Chikly Lymph Drainage Therapy.

Questions people ask

Is Vodder the same as manual lymphatic drainage?

Vodder is the oldest named method of manual lymphatic drainage, and many people use the two terms interchangeably. Földi, Casley-Smith, Leduc and Chikly are other methods under the same umbrella.

Does a Chikly session feel different from a Vodder session?

Both are light and slow. A Chikly-trained therapist may pause to feel for the direction of flow before choosing a route, while a Vodder sequence follows a more set order of strokes, but in practice the two often look similar from the table.

What does Vodder Level One mean on a therapist's profile?

It means the therapist has completed the first level of Dr. Vodder School training, the foundation in technique. The school's later levels add applied MLD and lymphedema treatment.

Should I ask my therapist which method they use?

It is a fair question, but a better one is what training they have for your specific situation, such as surgery recovery or lymphedema. The method tells you about their style; the certification tells you about their depth.

Sources

1. Marxen et al., Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum (2023): The utility of lymphatic massage in cosmetic procedures
2. Dr. Vodder School International: FAQ
3. Földiklinik: Földischule
4. Chikly Health Institute: Lymph Drainage Therapy
5. Rostom and Salama, Postepy Dermatologii i Alergologii (2022): Vodder versus Casley-Smith MLD for cellulite after thigh liposuction
6. National Lymphedema Network: Lymphedema diagnosis and treatment position paper (2025)

Page reviewed October 5, 2026. This page is education, not a diagnosis. For your own situation, talk to your doctor, surgeon or care team, or ask us.