Effects of Exercise in Patients with Lipedema
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Exercise, Physical activity.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Lipedema. Basic parameters: from 18 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Turkey (Türkiye)
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Effects of Exercise on Edema, Pain, Exercise Capacity, Lower Extremity Muscle Strength and Function in Patients with Lipedema
Overview
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.
Interventions
- Behavioral Exercise
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. - Behavioral Physical activity
The control group will be given recommendations regarding lipedema and physical activity level.
Primary outcome measures
- Local tissue water percentage [Time frame: 6 weeks]
- edema [Time frame: 6 weeks]
- Pain severity [Time frame: 6 weeks]
- Pain Threshold [Time frame: 6 weeks]
- Lower extremity muscle strength [Time frame: 6 weeks]
- Lower extremity muscle endurance [Time frame: 6 weeks]
- functional exercise capacity [Time frame: 6 weeks]
- lower extremity function [Time frame: 6 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
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.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center
- Gazi University Faculty of Health Sciences — Ankara
Publications
- Sakizli Erdal E, Ergin C, Haspolat M, Erturk B, Keser I. Effects of multimodal exercise program on edema, pain, exercise capacity, lower extremity muscle strength and function in patients with lipedema. Phlebology. 2026 Feb;41(1):47-57. doi: 10.1177/02683555251343148. Epub 2025 May 15. PMID 40372970
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06811961 · ElifSakizliLipedema