Aerobic Exercise Effects in Lower Extremity Lymphedema
22. juli 2026 oppdatert av: Sinem Akselim, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital
Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Ultrasonographic Parameters, Functional Status, Balance, and Quality of Life in Patients With Lower Extremity Lymphedema
Lower extremity lymphedema negatively affects patients' functional status, quality of life, and activities of daily living. Complete decongestive therapy (CDT) is considered the gold-standard conservative treatment for patients with lymphedema. CDT consists of manual lymph drainage (MLD), skin care, compression bandaging, and exercise. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of CDT in patients with lower extremity lymphedema. However, the results of studies investigating the effectiveness of different types of exercise are inconsistent. Moreover, most of these studies have been conducted in patients with upper extremity lymphedema, and the outcome measures have generally been limited to limb circumference measurements and quality of life assessments.
To the best of our knowledge, no previous study has comprehensively evaluated the effects of aerobic exercise on both ultrasonographic parameters (quantitative data) and functional outcomes in patients with lower extremity lymphedema, as planned in the present study. Therefore, this study was designed to contribute to the existing literature by investigating these effects.
Studieoversikt
Status
Har ikke rekruttert ennå
Forhold
Intervensjon / Behandling
Studietype
Intervensjonell
Registrering (Antatt)
50
Fase
- Ikke aktuelt
Kontakter og plasseringer
Denne delen inneholder kontaktinformasjon for de som utfører studien, og informasjon om hvor denne studien blir utført.
Studiekontakt
- Navn: Sinem Akselim
- Telefonnummer: +905336391332
- E-post: sinemakselim@gmail.com
Deltakelseskriterier
Forskere ser etter personer som passer til en bestemt beskrivelse, kalt kvalifikasjonskriterier. Noen eksempler på disse kriteriene er en persons generelle helsetilstand eller tidligere behandlinger.
Kvalifikasjonskriterier
Alder som er kvalifisert for studier
- Voksen
- Eldre voksen
Tar imot friske frivillige
Nei
Beskrivelse
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of lower extremity lymphedema (unilateral or bilateral)
- Age ≥18 years
- Absence of cognitive impairment
- Provision of written informed consent to participate in the study
Exclusion Criteria:
- Cognitive impairment
- Presence of general contraindications to exercise (e.g., hemodynamic instability, uncontrolled hypertension, decompensated heart failure, recent myocardial infarction, or unstable angina pectoris)
- Presence of neurological diseases affecting the lower extremities that would preclude participation in the exercise program
- Presence of unhealed fractures in the lower extremities preventing exercise therapy
- Active systemic infection or local infection in the treatment area, such as cellulitis, erysipelas, or thrombophlebitis in the lower extremities
- Acute venous thromboembolic events involving the lower extremities
- Heart failure or renal failure that may cause lower extremity edema
- Presence of concomitant lipedema
- Presence of venous insufficiency
- Ongoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy (among patients with malignancy-related lymphedema)
- Pregnancy
Studieplan
Denne delen gir detaljer om studieplanen, inkludert hvordan studien er utformet og hva studien måler.
Hvordan er studiet utformet?
Designdetaljer
- Primært formål: Behandling
- Tildeling: Randomisert
- Intervensjonsmodell: Parallell tildeling
- Masking: Dobbelt
Våpen og intervensjoner
Deltakergruppe / Arm |
Intervensjon / Behandling |
|---|---|
|
Aktiv komparator: control group
participants receive standart complete decongestive therapy including manuel lymph drainage,compression therapy, skin care and exercises
|
manuel lymph drainage, skin care, joint rom exercises, compression
|
|
Eksperimentell: exercise group
participants receive complete decongestive therapy combined with an aerobic exercise program
|
manuel lymph drainage, skin care, joint rom exercises, compression
Aerobic exercise using a recumbent cycle ergometer for 20-30 minutes. The exercise intensity will be set to reach 40-60% of the maximum target heart rate reserve. The treatment program will be administered for approximately 1 hour per day, 5 days per week, for a total of 4 weeks (20 sessions). |
Hva måler studien?
Primære resultatmål
Resultatmål |
Tiltaksbeskrivelse |
Tidsramme |
|---|---|---|
|
Kinesiophobia
Tidsramme: baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
Kinesiophobia will be assessed using the validated Turkish version of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), a 17-item questionnaire with a total score ranging from 17 to 68.
Change in score from baseline to post-treatment will be evaluated.
Higher scores indicate greater kinesiophobia.
|
baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
|
musculoskeletal ultrasonography- Muscle and Subcutaneous Tissue Thickness
Tidsramme: baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
All ultrasonographic measurements will be performed by the same experienced examiner under standardized conditions and will be assessed using B-mode ultrasonography. Quadriceps muscle thickness and subcutaneous tissue thickness will be assessed at standardized anatomical landmarks of the anterior thigh. Subcutaneous tissue thickness will be assessed at standardized anatomical sites of the lower limb. Measurements will be recorded in millimeters (mm). Greater thickness indicates increased muscle mass or subcutaneous tissue thickness, respectively. Change in muscle thickness from baseline to post-treatment will be evaluated. |
baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
|
musculoskeletal ultrasonography- Subcutaneous Tissue Echogenicity
Tidsramme: baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
Subcutaneous tissue echogenicity will be assessed by analyzing grayscale intensity values within a defined region of interest using B-mode ultrasonography.
Echogenicity will be quantified in grayscale values (arbitrary units).
Higher values indicate increased echogenicity.
|
baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
|
Balance
Tidsramme: baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
Balance performance will be assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), a 14-item performance-based measure with a total score ranging from 0 to 56.
Each item is scored on a 5-point scale (0-4), with higher scores indicating better balance.
Change in score from baseline to post-treatment will be evaluated.
|
baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
|
functional mobility
Tidsramme: baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
Functional mobility will be assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, which measures the time (in seconds) required to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn, return, and sit down.
Change in time from baseline to post-treatment will be evaluated.
Higher times indicate poorer functional mobility.
|
baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
|
Lower limb functional status
Tidsramme: baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
Lower limb functional status will be assessed using the Lower Limb Functional Index (LLFI), a 25-item patient-reported outcome measure with a total score ranging from 0 to 100.
Scores are typically expressed as a percentage, with higher scores indicating better functional status.
Change in score from baseline to post-treatment will be evaluated.
|
baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
Sekundære resultatmål
Resultatmål |
Tiltaksbeskrivelse |
Tidsramme |
|---|---|---|
|
fatigue
Tidsramme: baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
Fatigue severity will be assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), a 9-item self-reported questionnaire with each item scored from 1 to 7. The total score is calculated as the mean of the items, ranging from 1 to 7, with higher scores indicating greater fatigue severity.
Change in score from baseline to post-treatment will be evaluated.
|
baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
|
depression
Tidsramme: baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
Depression will be assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), a 21-item self-reported questionnaire with a total score ranging from 0 to 63.
Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms.
Change in score from baseline to post-treatment will be evaluated.
|
baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
|
health related quality of life
Tidsramme: baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
Lymphedema-related quality of life will be assessed using the Lymphedema Quality of Life Questionnaire (LYMQOL), a disease-specific patient-reported outcome measure including domains such as function, appearance, symptoms, and mood.
Domain scores and overall score range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating worse quality of life.
Change in scores from baseline to post-treatment will be evaluated.
|
baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
Andre resultatmål
Resultatmål |
Tiltaksbeskrivelse |
Tidsramme |
|---|---|---|
|
functional capacity
Tidsramme: baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
Functional exercise capacity will be assessed using the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), which measures the distance walked in meters over 6 minutes.
Change in distance from baseline to post-treatment will be evaluated.
Greater distances indicate better functional performance.
|
baseline (before the first rehabilitation session) and immediately after completing 20 sessions of rehabilitation (4 weeks)
|
Samarbeidspartnere og etterforskere
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Studierekorddatoer
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Studer hoveddatoer
Studiestart (Antatt)
1. august 2026
Primær fullføring (Antatt)
15. desember 2026
Studiet fullført (Antatt)
15. mars 2027
Datoer for studieregistrering
Først innsendt
12. mars 2026
Først innsendt som oppfylte QC-kriteriene
22. juli 2026
Først lagt ut (Faktiske)
24. juli 2026
Oppdateringer av studieposter
Sist oppdatering lagt ut (Faktiske)
24. juli 2026
Siste oppdatering sendt inn som oppfylte QC-kriteriene
22. juli 2026
Sist bekreftet
1. juli 2026
Mer informasjon
Begreper knyttet til denne studien
Andre studie-ID-numre
- 2024-TBEK-2025/12-15
Plan for individuelle deltakerdata (IPD)
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NEI
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