Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Compression Therapy Combined with Exercises Versus Exercises Only Among Lipedema Patients Using Various Outcome Measures

The treatment of lipedema remains challenging, largely due to widespread misconceptions. Selecting the appropriate treatment method necessitates the use of accurate outcome measures. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of compression therapy combined with exercises versus exercises alone i...

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Main Authors: Monika Czerwińska, Marcin Gruszecki, Jacek Rumiński, Rita Hansdorfer-Korzon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Life
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/11/1346
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author Monika Czerwińska
Marcin Gruszecki
Jacek Rumiński
Rita Hansdorfer-Korzon
author_facet Monika Czerwińska
Marcin Gruszecki
Jacek Rumiński
Rita Hansdorfer-Korzon
author_sort Monika Czerwińska
collection DOAJ
description The treatment of lipedema remains challenging, largely due to widespread misconceptions. Selecting the appropriate treatment method necessitates the use of accurate outcome measures. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of compression therapy combined with exercises versus exercises alone in lipedema patients using various outcome measures. Twenty-four women with lipedema were divided into two equal groups: one group received compression therapy plus exercises while the other group performed exercises only. The effectiveness of the treatment was assessed before and after the intervention using several measures: an SF-36 questionnaire, a symptom severity survey, circumference (via 3D scanning), and body composition analysis. Significant improvements were observed in the SF-36 Physical Functioning and SF-36 Energy/Fatigue scores among participants in the compression group. Additionally, there was a reduction in the heaviness of extremities, the disproportion between the trunk and limbs, and the level of swelling in the compression therapy. Circumferences decreased in both groups. Although more circumferences were significantly reduced in the compression group, the reduction at the point above the knee was greater in the non-compression group. Compression therapy is an effective treatment for lipedema. Various measures, such as quality-of-life questionnaires and symptom severity surveys, can be used as valuable tools for assessing the effectiveness of lipedema treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-e5d68838a6c8459d8b01157fc1a5ffbf2024-11-26T18:09:59ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292024-10-011411134610.3390/life14111346Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Compression Therapy Combined with Exercises Versus Exercises Only Among Lipedema Patients Using Various Outcome MeasuresMonika Czerwińska0Marcin Gruszecki1Jacek Rumiński2Rita Hansdorfer-Korzon3Department of Physiotherapy, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, PolandDepartment of Radiology Informatics and Statistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, PolandDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics, Gdansk University of Technology, 80-211 Gdansk, PolandDepartment of Physiotherapy, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, PolandThe treatment of lipedema remains challenging, largely due to widespread misconceptions. Selecting the appropriate treatment method necessitates the use of accurate outcome measures. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of compression therapy combined with exercises versus exercises alone in lipedema patients using various outcome measures. Twenty-four women with lipedema were divided into two equal groups: one group received compression therapy plus exercises while the other group performed exercises only. The effectiveness of the treatment was assessed before and after the intervention using several measures: an SF-36 questionnaire, a symptom severity survey, circumference (via 3D scanning), and body composition analysis. Significant improvements were observed in the SF-36 Physical Functioning and SF-36 Energy/Fatigue scores among participants in the compression group. Additionally, there was a reduction in the heaviness of extremities, the disproportion between the trunk and limbs, and the level of swelling in the compression therapy. Circumferences decreased in both groups. Although more circumferences were significantly reduced in the compression group, the reduction at the point above the knee was greater in the non-compression group. Compression therapy is an effective treatment for lipedema. Various measures, such as quality-of-life questionnaires and symptom severity surveys, can be used as valuable tools for assessing the effectiveness of lipedema treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/11/1346lipedemalipoedemacompression therapyqualitative measures
spellingShingle Monika Czerwińska
Marcin Gruszecki
Jacek Rumiński
Rita Hansdorfer-Korzon
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Compression Therapy Combined with Exercises Versus Exercises Only Among Lipedema Patients Using Various Outcome Measures
Life
lipedema
lipoedema
compression therapy
qualitative measures
title Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Compression Therapy Combined with Exercises Versus Exercises Only Among Lipedema Patients Using Various Outcome Measures
title_full Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Compression Therapy Combined with Exercises Versus Exercises Only Among Lipedema Patients Using Various Outcome Measures
title_fullStr Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Compression Therapy Combined with Exercises Versus Exercises Only Among Lipedema Patients Using Various Outcome Measures
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Compression Therapy Combined with Exercises Versus Exercises Only Among Lipedema Patients Using Various Outcome Measures
title_short Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Compression Therapy Combined with Exercises Versus Exercises Only Among Lipedema Patients Using Various Outcome Measures
title_sort evaluation of the effectiveness of compression therapy combined with exercises versus exercises only among lipedema patients using various outcome measures
topic lipedema
lipoedema
compression therapy
qualitative measures
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/11/1346
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AT marcingruszecki evaluationoftheeffectivenessofcompressiontherapycombinedwithexercisesversusexercisesonlyamonglipedemapatientsusingvariousoutcomemeasures
AT jacekruminski evaluationoftheeffectivenessofcompressiontherapycombinedwithexercisesversusexercisesonlyamonglipedemapatientsusingvariousoutcomemeasures
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