Physical Therapy in Lipedema Surgery

September 17, 2026 updated by: Ester Cerezo-Téllez, University of Alcala

Physical Therapy Intervention in the Immediate Postoperative Phase of Lipedema Surgery

The goal of this observational study or clinical trial is to know evaluate the effects of a modified Complete Decongestive Therapy protocol using the Godoy Method in the postoperative period following lipedema surgery.

The main question it aims to answer are:

  • if the treatment is effective on pain reduction, edema resorption, mobility improvement in short term and follow-up at 90 days
  • if the treatment is effective on preventing complications of these participants after surgery

Participants have been treated in the lasts years and authors recover information of the effects of the treatment.

Researchers will compare sub-groups of participants depending on the number of physical therapy sessions received

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Background: Lipedema is an adipose tissue disorder in women, with an abnormal fat deposition in lower limbs and occasionally upper limbs. The patients present pain, bruising, heaviness, and mobility impairment. It affects them physically and psychologically. Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effects of a modified CDT protocol using the Godoy Method in the postoperative period following lipedema surgery.

Outcomes: pain (VAS), edema resorption, complications, mobility and patient satisfaction.

A descriptive statistical analysis will be performed using means and standard deviation (quantitative outcomes) and percentages (dichotomous and categorical outcomes). An inferential analysis will be carried out using paired and unpaired T-tests as One-way and repeated measures ANOVA to search for differences between quantitative outcomes. Pearson chi-square will also be used to relate dichotomous and categorical variables in a transversal analysis. All missing values will be excluded from the analysis. In all cases, a P<0.05 value and a 95% confidence interval will be determined forstatistical significance. All statistical analysis will be performed using the Stata® version 14.2 package for MS Windows® version 10.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
293

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Spain
    • Madrid
      • Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain, 28823
        • Ester Cerezo Tellez

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

females from undergon a surgical proceeding for lipedema in two private hospitals in Madrid and were treated in a private physical therapy center. After surgery they were recommended to receive CDT by their surgeons. All participants received the same physical therapy treatment. The study was approved by the Clinical Research Committee of Hospital Universitario Principe de Asturias (CEIm 36/2023).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • female subject who underwent a lipedema surgery
  • recommendation of the surgeon to receive physical therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

  • unilateral surgery
  • lack of data in the clinical history
  • only 1-2 physical therapy sessions

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: ECOLOGIC_OR_COMMUNITY
  • Time Perspectives: RETROSPECTIVE

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
modified CDT physical therapy protocol, based on Godoy's Method

A complete physical therapy assessment was done. All sociodemographic data were recruited as well as body mass index (BMI), the month of intervention, kind of surgery, extracted liters, psychological treatment, physical therapy sessions, pain, mobility, complications (seroma, wound infection, chafing or risk of ulcer, pain, fibrosis, genital edema), compression, smoking, satisfaction with the treatment received.

A modified CDT physical therapy protocol, based on Godoy's Method, was applied to all study participants. This protocol comprised of

  1. Cervical Stimuli 15min
  2. MLD based on Godoy
  3. Mechanical lymphatic drainage with RA Godoy® device
  4. Compression therapy with multilayer and multicomponent bandages during the mechanical lymphatic drainage.
  5. Skin care - before and after the bandages- and therapeutic education.
  6. Put on compression garments
  7. Active movement if possible.
Other: modified CDT physical therapy protocol, based on Godoy's Method

modified CDT physical therapy protocol

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain Visual Analogue Scale
Time Frame: Baseline, short-term (post-treatment), and 90 days follow-up

Pain assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Scores range from 0 mm (no pain) to 100 mm (worst imaginable pain), where higher scores indicate worse pain.
Baseline, short-term (post-treatment), and 90 days follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
edema resorption - volume
Time Frame: 2018-2022

lower limb edema is measured
2018-2022
complications reported - binary outcome
Time Frame: 2018-2022

seroma, wound infection, chafing or risk of ulcer, pain, fibrosis, genital edema
2018-2022
mobility - scale
Time Frame: 2018-2022

1- dependent to move/no improvement, 2-somewhat dependent/minor to medium improvement, 3- independent marked improvement
2018-2022
patient satisfaction
Time Frame: 2018-2022

binary outcome
2018-2022

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Alcala

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 12, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 12, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 20, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 20, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 1, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 17, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • OE36/2023

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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