Mind-Body Chair Yoga for Functional Mobility in Individuals With Lipedema (LIP-MOVE)

Lipedema is a chronic, often progressive adipose tissue disorder characterized by disproportionate and symmetrical accumulation of adipose tissue, most commonly affecting the lower extremities. The condition may be associated with swelling, tenderness or pain, heaviness, impaired physical function, and changes in body image and quality of life. Functional limitations may increase over time and can affect participation in daily activities and exercise.

Movement and exercise are commonly included among conservative approaches to managing lipedema. However, individuals with lipedema may experience physical limitations, discomfort, fatigue, reduced confidence with movement, or difficulty accessing exercise programs designed for their needs. Accessible movement approaches that can be adapted to different levels of mobility may therefore be particularly relevant to this population.

Yoga incorporates physical movement with breathing, attention regulation, relaxation, and other mind-body practices. Chair-based yoga provides an adaptable form of yoga that can be performed while seated and can be modified for individuals who have difficulty with floor-based exercise, prolonged standing, or conventional exercise programs. Mind-body practices incorporated into yoga may also provide potential benefits related to stress regulation, relaxation, sleep, and psychological well-being.

Despite the growing use of yoga and other mind-body practices among individuals with chronic health conditions, there is limited clinical research specifically examining remotely delivered chair-based mind-body yoga for people with lipedema. Additional research is needed to determine whether this type of intervention is feasible to deliver remotely and whether participation is associated with changes in functional mobility and other patient-reported outcomes relevant to lipedema.

The present study was developed from a prior citizen-science mind-body chair yoga program involving individuals with lipedema and/or lymphedema. That program explored changes in quality-of-life domains including pain, mobility, sleep, and mental health following a six-week gentle chair-based mind-body yoga intervention. The findings provided preliminary information supporting the feasibility of further investigation using a formal clinical research design. The current study is intended to extend that work by using a prospective, randomized, controlled design focused specifically on individuals with lipedema.

The study will evaluate a remotely delivered mind-body chair yoga intervention using a two-arm parallel-group design. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a mind-body chair yoga plus support-group intervention or a support-group-only comparison condition during the primary study period. The comparison condition is intended to provide social support and participant engagement while allowing evaluation of outcomes associated with the addition of the yoga intervention. Participants assigned to the comparison condition will subsequently be offered the opportunity to participate in the chair yoga program following completion of the primary study period.

The intervention is designed to be accessible to participants with varying levels of physical ability. Chair-based movement allows participants to remain seated for much of the practice while adapting movements according to individual needs and abilities. The mind-body component includes practices such as breathing, relaxation, meditation, and gentle movement. The remote format is intended to reduce barriers associated with travel and access to in-person programs and may provide a practical model for individuals who have difficulty attending conventional exercise or yoga classes.

The primary focus of the study is functional mobility. Functional mobility is an important aspect of quality of life for individuals with lipedema because limitations in movement may affect independence, participation in daily activities, physical activity, and overall well-being. The study will also examine additional patient-reported domains relevant to lipedema, including symptom severity, pain, sleep, and mental well-being.

In addition to quantitative measures, the study will collect information about participant experiences with the intervention. These data will help characterize how participants perceive the accessibility, acceptability, and usefulness of the program and may identify factors that influence participation and adherence.

The study is intended as a feasibility and effectiveness investigation and is not designed to establish that chair yoga is a treatment or cure for lipedema. Rather, it will provide preliminary clinical evidence regarding whether a structured, remotely delivered mind-body chair yoga intervention can be implemented with individuals with lipedema and whether participation is associated with changes in functional mobility and related quality-of-life outcomes.

Results from this study may provide information to guide the design of future, larger clinical trials and may contribute to the evidence base concerning accessible movement and mind-body approaches for individuals living with lipedema.