The Földiklinik & Lymphoedema — The Gold Standard Explained

What is the Földiklinik?

The Földiklinik is one of the world's leading specialist centres for lymphoedema and related conditions. Founded by Professor Michael Földi and his wife Dr. Ethel Földi in Hinterzarten, Germany, it has been at the centre of lymphoedema research, clinical practice and professional education for decades. Furthermore, it remains the reference institution for Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) — the internationally recognised gold standard for lymphoedema management.

Today, the Földiklinik treats patients from across Europe and beyond, offers specialist training programmes for lymphoedema therapists, and continues to contribute to the development of international lymphoedema guidelines. Consequently, its clinical approach underpins the evidence base used by lymphoedema specialists worldwide.

Why the Földiklinik is the reference centre for lymphoedema

No other institution has contributed as extensively to the scientific and clinical development of lymphoedema management. Moreover, the Földiklinik's training programmes have certified generations of lymphoedema therapists across Europe — making its influence on day-to-day clinical practice far broader than its physical location might suggest. You can learn more about the conservative therapy approach it pioneered on our What is Lymphoedema page.

Where Complete Decongestive Therapy was developed

Complete Decongestive Therapy — known in German as Komplexe Physikalische Entstauungstherapie (KPE) — was developed and systematised at the Földiklinik. CDT combines four essential pillars: manual lymphatic drainage, compression therapy, therapeutic exercise and skin care. Furthermore, it is the approach recommended by all major international lymphoedema guidelines, including those of the International Society of Lymphology (ISL).

The Földiklinik's contribution was not merely to develop these techniques — but to establish the clinical evidence base that demonstrated their effectiveness, and to create the training infrastructure that allowed them to be delivered consistently by qualified therapists across the world. Therefore, when patients receive CDT anywhere in Europe, they are receiving a therapy whose foundations were laid at the Földiklinik.

The four pillars of CDT — as developed at the Földiklinik

• Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) — a specialised gentle massage technique that stimulates lymph flow, always beginning centrally at the neck
• Compression therapy — the most important pillar for long-term daily management, using correctly fitted garments
• Therapeutic exercise — movement with compression to activate the muscle pump and support lymph flow
• Skin care — daily protection against infection, which is the primary driver of lymphoedema progression

Why the Földiklinik matters for patients

For a patient with lymphoedema, the Földiklinik matters for a simple reason: the clinical approach it developed is the most evidence-based approach available for managing the condition. Moreover, the quality of care a patient receives — wherever they are — depends significantly on whether their therapist has been trained in the Földiklinik approach or an equivalent evidence-based programme.

Additionally, for patients who are able to access treatment directly at the Földiklinik, it offers a level of specialist expertise that is difficult to find elsewhere. Patients with complex or long-standing lymphoedema, those who have not responded well to treatment elsewhere, and those with rare forms of lymphoedema particularly benefit from access to this level of specialist care.

What the Földiklinik approach means in daily life

The Földiklinik's clinical approach is ultimately about empowering patients to manage their condition effectively at home, between appointments. Consequently, the emphasis is not only on what happens during clinical sessions — but on building the knowledge, habits and structure that patients need to sustain their management independently over the long term. This philosophy directly informs the approach that Ynone takes to supporting daily self-management.

The 2026 international lymphoedema guidelines

In 2026, updated international clinical guidelines for lymphoedema management were published — with Dr. Dominique Oberlin of the Földiklinik serving as lead author. Furthermore, these guidelines represent the current international consensus on evidence-based lymphoedema management, synthesising the latest research across diagnosis, conservative therapy, surgical options and patient education.

The guidelines reinforce the central role of CDT as the gold standard for conservative management, the importance of early diagnosis and intervention, and the critical role of patient education and self-management support in long-term outcomes. Moreover, they highlight the growing evidence for digital tools in supporting patient adherence to daily management routines — an area directly relevant to Ynone's mission.

What the 2026 guidelines mean for patients

For patients, the practical implications of the 2026 guidelines are clear: consistent, structured daily management — compression, drainage, exercise and skin care — remains the most effective approach to controlling lymphoedema and preventing progression. Additionally, the guidelines emphasise that patients who are well-informed about their condition and who have the tools to manage it consistently achieve significantly better long-term outcomes.

Ynone and the Földiklinik

Ynone's clinical content is reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Dominique Oberlin, specialist in lymphology at the Földiklinik and lead author of the 2026 international lymphoedema guidelines. Furthermore, this clinical oversight ensures that the educational content, self-management guidance and framing of lymphoedema information within Ynone reflects current evidence-based practice.

This is not a commercial relationship — it is a clinical one. Moreover, it reflects Ynone's commitment to ensuring that the information and support it provides to patients is grounded in the same evidence base that informs specialist clinical practice. Therefore, when patients use Ynone to understand their condition, track their daily routine or prepare for clinical appointments, they can be confident that the underlying approach is clinically sound.

What this means for Ynone users

For patients using Ynone, the Földiklinik connection means that the educational content within the platform reflects the same clinical principles that underpin CDT — the gold standard approach. Additionally, the self-management framework that Ynone supports — consistent compression, regular drainage, daily skin care, structured tracking — is directly aligned with the evidence-based approach developed and refined at the Földiklinik over decades.

Ynone clinical partners

Beyond the Földiklinik, Ynone's clinical development has been supported by partnerships with several leading European institutions:

• Charité Berlin — one of Europe's largest university hospitals, with a specialist lymphology department led by Dr. Anett Reißhauer
• Uniklinik Bonn — specialist centre with expertise in lymphoedema and rare lymphatic conditions, with involvement from Dr. Anne Groteklaes and Prof. Claus Pieper
• Villa Sana GmbH — Ynone's first commercial partner, a specialist rehabilitation centre and part of the Lympha Press / Mego Afek group

Furthermore, Ynone's patient research has involved more than 45 interviews with patients and specialists, with an 83% demand validation rate across more than 90 patients. Consequently, the platform's design and content reflect not only clinical evidence but direct patient experience and feedback.

How Ynone applies this evidence in daily practice

The clinical evidence developed at the Földiklinik and reinforced by the 2026 international guidelines points clearly to what makes the difference in lymphoedema outcomes: consistent, structured daily management, sustained over the long term. Moreover, the evidence shows that the gap between clinical appointments — where most of the management happens — is where support is most needed and most often absent.

Ynone is designed to fill precisely this gap. It helps patients structure and sustain their daily CDT routine between appointments — tracking compression wearing time, self-drainage, exercise and skin care, recording measurements, setting reminders and preparing information to share with their care team.

• Track your daily CDT routine — compression, drainage, exercise, skin care
• Record limb measurements and visualise changes over time
• Set reminders for compression garment renewals and appointments
• Prepare structured data to share with your lymphoedema therapist
• Stay consistent between appointments when professional oversight is not available

Ynone is an educational and self-management support tool. It does not diagnose lymphoedema and does not replace your lymphoedema therapist or healthcare team.

→ Join the Beta waitlist at ynone.eu — it's free

Interested in Ynone for your clinic or lymphoedema therapy practice? Visit our partnership page.

Sources and clinical references

This article was written using current clinical guidelines and peer-reviewed sources, including:

• International Society of Lymphology (ISL) — Consensus Document on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Peripheral Lymphedema, 2020
• International Lymphoedema Framework (ILF) — Best Practice Documents
• British Lymphology Society (BLS) — Lymphoedema Clinical Definitions and Assessment Guide (5S), September 2025
• Földiklinik / Földi College — CDT clinical principles and training documentation
• Oberlin, D. et al. — International Lymphoedema Clinical Guidelines, 2026

This article is reviewed periodically to ensure accuracy. It is intended for educational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for advice about your individual situation.

This article was produced with the support of AI-assisted research and writing tools, and reviewed for clinical accuracy by Dr. Dominique Oberlin, specialist in lymphology at the Földiklinik (Germany) and lead author of the 2026 international lymphoedema clinical guidelines. The final content reflects current evidence-based practice and has been approved for publication by the Ynone clinical advisory team.