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Manual and Self-Lymphatic Drainage Combined With Exercise in Women With Lipedema

Sponsor: Merve SEVINC GUNDUZ • ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07803926

Registry updated: 2026-09-10

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Description

This randomized controlled study aims to compare the effects of two physiotherapy approaches in women with lipedema. Participants will be assigned to either manual lymphatic drainage combined with supervised aerobic exercise or self-lymphatic drainage combined with physical activity guidance. Both programs will be applied for six weeks. The study will investigate whether these two approaches differ in their effects on pain, lower extremity function, limb volume, mobility, quality of life, and depressive symptoms. Assessments will be performed before the intervention and at the end of the six-week program.

Interventions

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (Other)
Manual lymphatic drainage will be administered by a physiotherapist for approximately 30 minutes per session, twice weekly for 6 weeks. Slow, gentle, rhythmic manual techniques will be applied to facilitate lymphatic drainage.
Aerobic Exercise (Other)
Participants will perform supervised moderate-intensity treadmill-based aerobic exercise twice weekly for 6 weeks. Exercise intensity will be prescribed at 64-76% of maximum heart rate and monitored using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale, targeting a score of 11-13.
Self-Lymphatic Drainage (Other)
Participants will be instructed by a physiotherapist on how to perform self-lymphatic drainage. They will perform the technique as part of their 6-week intervention program and will be regularly followed by the physiotherapist throughout the intervention period.
Physical Activity Guidance (Other)
Participants will receive guidance from a physiotherapist to engage in moderate-intensity physical activity during the 6-week intervention period. Walking intensity will be guided using the Talk Test, with participants instructed to maintain an intensity at which they can talk but not sing. Participants will be regularly followed throughout the intervention period.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Female sex. * Aged 18 to 65 years. * Diagnosed with lipedema. * Diagnosed with Stage I, II, III, or IV lipedema. * No participation in any physiotherapy program within the previous 3 months. * No previous liposuction surgery. * Not currently following a weight-loss diet. * No change in body weight greater than 10% within the previous 6 months. * Willing to participate in the study and provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Severe visual or cognitive impairment. * Severe cardiovascular disease. * Musculoskeletal conditions or injuries affecting the lower extremities, including osteoarthritis, contracture, or osteoporosis, that may interfere with participation in the study. * Skin conditions that may interfere with the intervention, such as pressure ulcers. * Uncontrolled endocrine disorders, including type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus or hypothyroidism. * Obesity secondary to endocrine disorders or medication-induced obesity. * Use of estrogen-progestin therapy within the previous 2 months. * Pregnancy or a positive pregnancy test. * Breastfeeding. * Concurrent participation in another clinical trial.

Conditions

Lipedema

Locations

Bezmialem Vakif University — Istanbul, Eyupsultan, Turkey (Türkiye)

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Official Source

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

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