本文首先回顧淋巴系統的解剖構造以及淋巴系統的生理病理學。由於淋巴系統構造的獨特性，在1980年之前，欠缺對淋巴系統的正確認知常使得物理治療師沒有辦法有效的處理淋巴水腫問題。隨著對淋巴系統的解剖構造以及生理病理學的瞭解逐漸增加，完整之減腫脹物理治療法是一套最早在歐洲被提出來治療淋巴水腫病人的方法，現今除了歐洲之外亦被廣泛用於美國。其治療項目包括了徒手淋巴引流、壓縮治療、運動以及病人的教育，如嚴密的皮膚及指甲的照護等。近年來，除了報告指出完整之減腫脹物理治療法的療效外，陸續亦有隨機控制組的研究報告，探討比較完整之減腫脹物理治療法中個別治療項目的療效。因此，本篇文章除介紹完整之減腫脹物理治療法外，並藉由回顧淋巴系統的解剖構造，淋巴系統的生理病理學，以及探討淋巴水腫療效的文獻，希望物理治療臨床工作者在治療淋巴水腫病人時能選擇合適的治療項目以及給與病人正確的治療方法。（物理治療2003;28(3):157-165）

Anatomical structure and physiology of lymphatic system along with pathophysiology of lymphedema were firstly reviewed in this article. Physical therapy for the treatment of lymphedema before 1980 often failed because of the lack of sound knowledge of human lymphatic system. With the increasing knowledge in this arena, complete decongestive physical therapy was firstly developed in Europe and was introduced later to the States for patients with lymphedema. Complete decongestive physical therapy includes manual lymph drainage, compression therapy, exercise, and patient education which consisted of meticulous skin care. Treatment outcomes of the complete decongestive physical therapy and its individual item were studied in recent years. We critically reviewed these studies and discussed their implications in attempt to provide physical therapist appropriate approaches in treating lymphedema. (FJPT 2003;28(3):157-165)