Effects of Exercise in Patients with Lipedema

Ilke Keser

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Lipedema

Treatments: Behavioral: Physical activity; Behavioral: Exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06811961

ElifSakizliLipedema

Details and patient eligibility

About

Lipedema is a chronic progressive disease characterized by symmetrical, disproportionate swelling of subcutaneous adipose tissue, which is common in women and mostly seen in the lower extremities and to a lesser extent in the upper extremities. Healthy lifestyle approaches including exercise treatments are very important for lipedema patients in order to prevent disease progression. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of exercise on edema, pain, exercise capacity, lower extremity muscle strength and function in lipedema patients. Sociodemographic information of the patients, body composition with Tanita InnerScan BC-601-CG device, clinical information regarding lipedema, type and stage of lipedema, inspection, palpation findings will be recorded. Local tissue water percentage will be assessed using Moisturemeter-d compact (MMDc, Delfin Technologies, Kuopio, Finland) device, circumference measurement using tape, pain intensity with Visual Analog Scale, pain threshold with Baseline brand digital algometer device. Muscle strength will be assessed using K-Force hand dynamometer. Functional exercise capacity will be assessed with the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and lower extremity dysfunction with the lower extremity functional scale. After the assessments are made, the patients will be randomly divided into 2 groups. The patients in the study group will perform group exercises consisting of warm-up, loading and cool-down periods of 40-50 minutes, 2 days a week for 6 weeks, and strengthening exercises applied to the hip muscles and knee extensors with elastic resistance bands, which are decided according to the level of effort perceived by the patient, 3 sets of 10 repetitions, 2 days a week for 6 weeks. The same assessments will be applied to the patients again at the end of the exercise program. The control group will be re-evaluated after 6 weeks with suggestions regarding lipedema and physical activity level, and the obtained data will be compared.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Having a diagnosis of Lipedema,
• Patients with Lipedema stage 1,2 and 3

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals with cardiopulmonary, rheumatic or neurological diagnoses that have symptoms severe enough to prevent participation in exercise,
• History of cancer, surgery or trauma that may affect the circulatory system,
• History of liposuction or orthopedic surgery within the last year,
• Individuals who cannot mobilize independently.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

Exercise group

Experimental group

Description:

Patients with lipedema will perform group exercises consisting of warm-up, loading and cool-down periods of 40-50 minutes, 2 days a week for 6 weeks, and strengthening exercises applied to the muscles around the hips and knee extensors with elastic resistance bands, determined according to the effort level perceived by the patient, 3 sets of 10 repetitions, 2 days a week for 6 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exercise

Control group

Other group

Description:

The control group will be given recommendations regarding lipedema and physical activity level.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Physical activity