Ultrasonographic Evaluation and Pedobarographic Correlation of Lower Extremity Muscles in Lipedema Patients

NCT07724483 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: MARPODUSGPODUSG
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 90
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to investigate the relationship between lower extremity muscle/tendon characteristics and walking/balance functions in women with lipedema. Lipedema is a condition characterized by abnormal fat accumulation that can lead to walking difficulties and joint problems. We will use ultrasonography to measure muscle thickness and tendon structures, and a pedobarography system to analyze foot pressure distribution during standing and walking. By comparing 45 patients with 45 healthy volunteers, we aim to identify the musculoskeletal causes of gait disorders in lipedema to help develop better prevention and treatment strategies

Conditions

Lipedema

Keywords

Lipedema; Pedobarography; Musculoskeletal Ultrasound; Rectus Femoris; Gastrocnemius; Posterior Tibialis; Gluteus Medius; Achilles; STAR

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Lower Extremity Muscle and Tendon Thickness

  Measurement of thickness (mm) for M. Rectus Femoris, Gastrocnemius Medialis, Tibialis Posterior, and Gluteus Medius muscles, and the Patellar tendon via B-mode Ultrasonography (Esaote MyLab Seven).

  At baseline (Day 0)

• Tendon Cross-Sectional Area (CSA)

  Measurement of cross-sectional area (mm\^2) for Patellar, Achilles, and Tibialis Posterior tendons using B-mode Ultrasonography (Esaote MyLab Seven).

  At baseline (Day 0)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Static Pedobarographic Weight Distribution

  At baseline (Day 0)

• Center of Pressure (COP) Sway Area

  At baseline (Day 0)

• Center of Pressure (COP) Sway Velocity

  At baseline (Day 0)

• Dynamic Peak Plantar Pressures

  At baseline (Day 0)

• Clarke's Angle

  At baseline (Day 0).

Other Outcomes (5)

• Rapprich Lipedema Symptomatic Assessment Score

  At baseline (Day 0)

• LYMPQOL-LEG (Lymphedema Quality of Life Questionnaire - Leg)

  At baseline (Day 0)

• Foot Posture Index-6 (FPI-6) Score

  At baseline (Day 0)

Study Arms (2)

Lipedema

Patients Diagnosed Lipedema

Healthy Volunteer

Healthy Volunteers thoose age- and BMI-matched

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Female patients aged 18-65 years diagnosed with lipedema by a clinician and their age- and BMI-matched healthy volunteers

You may qualify if:

• Female patients aged 18-65 years and diagnosed with lipedema by a clinician.
• To agree to participate in the research.

You may not qualify if:

• Positivity of Stemmer's sign (inability to compress the skin between the proximal phalanges of the 2nd and 3rd fingers)
• Patients with Heart Failure
• Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
• Motor neuron diseases or myositis
• Diseases causing myositis
• Patients diagnosed with polyneuropathy
• Patients with motor-involved L3, L4, L5, or S1 radiculopathy
• Those unable to ambulate independently
• Those who cannot tolerate the assessments
• Pregnant women
• Congenital or traumatic lower extremity disorders (e.g., developmental hip dysplasia, previous lower extremity fractures with orthopaedic implants).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Marmara University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Marmara University School of Medicine Pendik Research and Training Hospital

Istanbul, Pendik, 34899, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

Related Publications (19)

• Rapprich S, Dingler A, Podda M. Liposuction is an effective treatment for lipedema-results of a study with 25 patients. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2011 Jan;9(1):33-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1610-0387.2010.07504.x. Epub 2010 Sep 7. English, German.

  PMID: 21166777 BACKGROUND

• Yalfani A, Ahmadi M, Asgarpoor A. The effect of kinetic factors of dynamic knee valgus on patellofemoral pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2024 Jan;37:246-253. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.11.001. Epub 2023 Nov 14.

  PMID: 38432813 BACKGROUND

• Linsmayer D, Neidlinger PK, Braus DF. [Rheumatism and the mind-A mini review]. Orthopade. 2019 Nov;48(11):957-962. doi: 10.1007/s00132-019-03812-8. German.

  PMID: 31559467 BACKGROUND

• Volkan-Yazici M, Yazici G, Esmer M. The Effects of Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy Applications on Lower Extremity Circumference and Volume in Patients with Lipedema. Lymphat Res Biol. 2021 Feb;19(1):111-114. doi: 10.1089/lrb.2020.0080. Epub 2020 Oct 30.

  PMID: 33124947 BACKGROUND

• Amato AC. Chondromalacia in Lipedema: The Sarcopenic-Valgus Cascade That Keeps Getting Missed. Cureus. 2025 Oct 24;17(10):e95299. doi: 10.7759/cureus.95299. eCollection 2025 Oct.

  PMID: 41287673 BACKGROUND

• Faerber G, Cornely M, Daubert C, Erbacher G, Fink J, Hirsch T, Mendoza E, Miller A, Rabe E, Rapprich S, Reich-Schupke S, Stucker M, Brenner E. S2k guideline lipedema. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2024 Sep;22(9):1303-1315. doi: 10.1111/ddg.15513. Epub 2024 Aug 27.

  PMID: 39188170 BACKGROUND

• Buso G, Depairon M, Tomson D, Raffoul W, Vettor R, Mazzolai L. Lipedema: A Call to Action! Obesity (Silver Spring). 2019 Oct;27(10):1567-1576. doi: 10.1002/oby.22597.

  PMID: 31544340 BACKGROUND

• Guven M, Kocadal O, Akman B, Poyanli OS, Kemah B, Atay EF. Proximal femoral nail shows better concordance of gait analysis between operated and uninjured limbs compared to hemiarthroplasty in intertrochanteric femoral fractures. Injury. 2016 Jun;47(6):1325-31. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2016.03.009. Epub 2016 Mar 12.

  PMID: 27017452 BACKGROUND

• Lorkowski J, Zarzycki D. [Clinical use of pedobarographic examination--own experience and review of literature]. Przegl Lek. 2006;63 Suppl 5:28-32. Polish.

  PMID: 17469520 BACKGROUND

• Lorkowski J, Gawronska K. Pedobarography in Physiotherapy: A Narrative Review on Current Knowledge. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2022;1375:13-22. doi: 10.1007/5584_2021_636.

  PMID: 33914289 BACKGROUND

• Neville C, Meyers K, Hojnowski L. Ultrasound assessment of the tibialis posterior tendon. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2010 Oct;40(10):667. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2010.0417. No abstract available.

  PMID: 20885025 BACKGROUND

• Johnson AW, Bruening DA, Violette VA, Perkins KV, Thompson CL, Ridge ST. Ultrasound Imaging Is Reliable for Tibialis Posterior Size Measurements. J Ultrasound Med. 2020 Dec;39(12):2305-2312. doi: 10.1002/jum.15340. Epub 2020 May 15.

  PMID: 32412115 BACKGROUND

• Whittaker JL, Emery CA. Sonographic measures of the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and vastus medialis muscles. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2014 Aug;44(8):627-32. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2014.5315. Epub 2014 Jul 16.

  PMID: 25029916 BACKGROUND

• Sheptulina AF, Yafarova AA, Mamutova EM, Drapkina OM. Sonographic Features of Rectus Femoris Muscle in Patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease and Their Correlation with Body Composition Parameters and Muscle Strength: Results of a Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study. Biomedicines. 2024 Jul 28;12(8):1684. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12081684.

  PMID: 39200149 BACKGROUND

• Kara M, Kaymak B, Ata AM, Ozkal O, Kara O, Baki A, Sengul Aycicek G, Topuz S, Karahan S, Soylu AR, Cakir B, Halil M, Ozcakar L. STAR-Sonographic Thigh Adjustment Ratio: A Golden Formula for the Diagnosis of Sarcopenia. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2020 Oct;99(10):902-908. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000001439.

  PMID: 32941253 BACKGROUND

• Nijholt W, Scafoglieri A, Jager-Wittenaar H, Hobbelen JSM, van der Schans CP. The reliability and validity of ultrasound to quantify muscles in older adults: a systematic review. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2017 Oct;8(5):702-712. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12210. Epub 2017 Jul 12.

  PMID: 28703496 BACKGROUND

• van la Parra RFD, Deconinck C, Pirson G, Servaes M, Fosseprez P. Lipedema: What we don't know. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2023 Sep;84:302-312. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2023.05.056. Epub 2023 May 30.

  PMID: 37390539 BACKGROUND

• WOLD LE, HINES EA Jr, ALLEN EV. Lipedema of the legs; a syndrome characterized by fat legs and edema. Ann Intern Med. 1951 May;34(5):1243-50. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-34-5-1243. No abstract available.

  PMID: 14830102 BACKGROUND

• Mortada H, Alhithlool AW, AlBattal NZ, Shetty RK, Al-Mekhlafi GA, Hong JP, Alshomer F. Lipedema: Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Management. Arch Plast Surg. 2025 May 15;52(3):185-196. doi: 10.1055/a-2530-5875. eCollection 2025 May.

  PMID: 40386000 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Lipedema

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Connective Tissue Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Study Officials

• Canan Şanal, Assoc. Prof.

  Marmara University Faculty of Medicine

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Canan Şanal, Assoc. Prof.

CONTACT

+90 533 138 10 32; canansanal@hotmail.com

M. Selim Eryılmaz, Res. Asst.

CONTACT

+90 542 48 48 329; selimerylmz@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Target Duration: 1 Day
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 17, 2026
• First Posted: July 24, 2026
• Study Start: July 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 15, 2026
• Last Updated: July 24, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Locations

TU (1)