A Scoping Review of Available Tools in Measurement of the Effectiveness of Conservative Treatment in Lipoedema

Monika Czerwińska, Jacek Teodorczyk and Rita Hansdorfer-Korzon
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Monika Czerwińska: Department of Physiotherapy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 7 Dębinki Street, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland
Jacek Teodorczyk: Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology Informatics, Medical University of Gdańsk, 17 Mariana Smoluchowskiego Street, 80-214 Gdańsk, Poland
Rita Hansdorfer-Korzon: Department of Physiotherapy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 7 Dębinki Street, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: (1) Background: Due to insufficient knowledge of lipoedema, the treatment of this disease is undoubtedly challenging. However, more and more researchers attempt to incorporate the most effective lipoedema treatment methods. When assessing a new therapeutic method, choosing correct, objective tools to measure the therapeutic outcome is very important. This article aims to present possible instruments that may be used in the evaluation of therapeutic effects in patients with lipoedema. (2) Methods: The data on therapeutic outcome measurements in lipoedema were selected in February 2022, using the Medical University of Gdansk Main Library multi-search engine. (3) Results: In total, 10 papers on this topic have been identified according to inclusion criteria. The tools evaluating the therapeutic outcomes used in the selected studies were: volume and circumference measurement, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, ultrasonography and various scales measuring the quality of life, the level of experiencing pain, the severity of symptoms, functional lower extremity scales, and a 6 min walk test. (4) Conclusion: The tools currently used in evaluating the effectiveness of conservative treatment in women with lipoedema are: volume and circumference measurement, waist-to-hip ratio, body fat percentage, ultrasonography, VAS scale, quality of life scales (SF-36, RAND-36), symptom severity questionnaire (QuASiL), Lower Extremity Functional Scale and 6 min walk. Choosing a proper tool to measure the treatment outcome is essential to objectively rate the effectiveness of therapeutic method.

Keywords: lipoedema; lipoedema; complete decongestive therapy; women’s health; physiotherapy; conservative treatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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