Lipedema
Conservative care to relieve symptoms, improve circulation, support your confidence and wellbeing.What is Lipedema?
Lipedema is a chronic vascular and inflammatory condition that primarily affects women characterized by abnormal accumulation of (adipose tissue) fat in the legs, and sometimes the arms and lower trunk. A common but under-recognized disorder, lipedema may cause pain, tenderness, swelling, and easy bruising. This excess fat with the formation of cellulite and nodules is not an aesthetic problem, as it has significant psychological, social and physical implications for women’s quality of life.
It’s resistant to diet, exercise, diuretics and bariatric surgery.
Main Causes
One of the main causes of lipedema is hormonal, and the symptoms worsen over the years due to successive female hormonal cycles. Significant increase in the estrogen hormone enhances its uptake by receptors, mainly in the lower limbs, this imbalance induces the formation and accumulation of fat, promoting malnourished, poorly oxygenated, disorganized tissue, without elasticity, full of toxins and cellulite. It is reported to start or worsen during puberty and other periods of hormonal changes, such as pregnancy and menopause. Genetic problems and inflammation are also associated with lipedema.
Lipedema is not rare, but a proper diagnosis is rarely made.
Diagnosis Challenges
Despite initial medical reports from more than 75 years ago, there are no definitive diagnostic tests for lipedema. It is often misdiagnosed as obesity, lymphedema, Dercum’s disease, or chronic venous insufficiency. Underlying lipedema may also be present in patients with these conditions. Currently the only way to diagnose lipedema is to have a trained physician perform a physical examination with a review of the patient’s medical history. However, few physicians are comfortable diagnosing and treating lipedema because of the lack of diagnostic tests and research-backed treatments. Therapists may be confident in distinguishing lipedema from lymphedema. Surgeons who perform liposuction are able to remove fat but may not provide broad or long-term care. Another common feature is fatty pads around the knees.
Types of Lipedema
- Type I: Fat is between your belly button and your hips.
- Type II: Fat is between your pelvis and knees.
- Type III: Fat is between your pelvis and ankles.
- Type IV: Fat is between your shoulders and wrists.
- Type V: Fat is between your knees and ankles.
Conservative Treatment
Conservative treatments can be thought of as lifestyle changes (better nutrition and more moderate exercise), mechanical (MLD, compression garments and compression pumps), and supplements/medications.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Involves gentle, rhythmic movements that stimulate the lymphatic system, which is responsible for draining excess fluid and waste products from the body. By promoting lymphatic drainage, MLD can help reduce swelling, improve circulation, and alleviate pain and discomfort associated with lipedema.
SHOCK WAVE
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), is being explored as a potential treatment for lipedema, a condition characterized by abnormal fat distribution, with some studies suggesting it can reduce pain, improve skin properties, and potentially reduce fat tissue.
RED AND INFRARED LIGHT
Particularly low-level laser therapy (LLLT), may offer benefits for lipedema, by potentially improving lymphatic flow, reducing inflammation, promoting tissue healing and relieving pain.
vIBRATION THERAPY
Vibration therapy may offer some potential benefits for lipedema by improving blood flow, reducing pain, enhancing muscle tone, and promoting lymphatic drainage. It’s important to use vibration plates cautiously and in consultation with a healthcare professional.
COMPRESSION
Several recent studies have upheld compression as an effective non-surgical treatment modality. Both compression garments and pneumatic compression devices (pumps) can deliver benefits for quality of life and potential changes to body composition.
Compression garments should be tailored to the patient. There are many types, sizes, and strengths of compression garments and all of these factors will likely have an impact on how effective the garment is at reducing inflammation, pain, and swelling. For the best chance of finding appropriate compression garments, patients can work with an experienced therapist or compression fitter to ensure accurate fit.
