337: Why Edema Management Belongs In Every Neuro Clinician’s Toolbox: A Conversation With Rachel Walker, PT, DPT, GCS, CLWT, CBIS

Have you ever worked with a stroke survivor or patient with spinal cord injury who had swollen limbs and not been sure what to actually do about it? Maybe you tried something, maybe you didn’t because you didn’t realize you should.  In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, talks with Rachel Walker, PT, DPT, GCS, CLWT, CBIS about why edema is so common — and so consequential — in the neuro population. Rachel walks through why unmanaged edema leads to pain, joint contracture, and long-term functional loss; how to run a full assessment (girth measurements, skin and lymphedema staging, and a bedside ABI to rule out arterial insufficiency before compressing); and what actually gets patients to stick with their compression, from donning aids to garment length and brand selection. Whether edema management has felt like an afterthought in your practice or you're looking to sharpen your clinical reasoning around it, this conversation gives you a clear, practical framework to start using right away.