PILOT STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF SPORTING COMPRESSION GARMENTS ON COMPOSITION AND VOLUME OF NORMAL AND LYMPHEDEMA LEGS

Abstract

Once clinically manifested as a swollenlimb, lymphedema can be difficult to manage.Our focus thus must shift from reactivetreatment to proactive management andprevention. On the basis of strong evidencein the literature, lymphedema specialistsnow encourage exercise as it can improvelymphatic drainage through muscle pumpaction. However, exercise may increase thelymph load on the vulnerable limb. We aimedto examine whether low level sportingcompression is a reasonable recommendationfor those with early stage lymphedema bymeasuring whether sporting compression (SC)tights decrease limb extracellular fluid asmeasured by Bio-impedance Spectroscopy(BIS) and Perometry in legs following exercisein both healthy controls and those with earlystage lymphedema. A group of normal subjects(n=10) and a group of Stage 1 (ISL) lymphedemapatients (n=9) were enrolled. Effortswere made to match participants in eachgroup. For those with unilateral lymphedema,the non-affected leg was used as a control.All were measured using BIS, Perometry andIndurometry before and after exercise bothwith and without sporting compressionclothing. The exercise regime was standardizedand involved treadmill walking at increasingrates within each person’s activity limitation.SC tights were shown to significantly decreasethe fluid build up caused by exercise in lymphedema-affected limbs as measured withBIS (p=0.0302). Perometry measurementsshowed that SC caused a significant decreasein limb volume post exercise of the wholecohort (p=0.0081) and of the control Group B(p=0.0348). Our findings support the notionthat SC may provide a socially acceptable andeffective means of lymphedema control duringexercise for early lymphedema management.