Which sport with lipedema, and which to avoid

Which sport with lipedema, and which to avoid

These pointers come from a consensus of two Italian learned societies, one in sport science, the other in phlebology.

Water above all

Swimming, aqua aerobics, walking in the pool. It is the only activity the consensus places above the others, for two mechanical reasons:

• the pressure of the water acts as natural compression;
• the buoyancy takes the load off the joints, so you can move for longer without pain.

Well tolerated

Cycling, exercise bike, cross-trainer, walking, yoga, vibration plate. What they have in common: little impact, and you can go at your own pace.

Strength training, yes

Stronger muscles support the joints and make daily life easier. The rule is to build up gradually, according to what you can tolerate, and not according to a programme written for someone else.

What is better avoided

• repeated jumping;
• heavy loads;
• very intense efforts;
• standing still for a long time.

Running is not named directly in the sources. It falls under the general principle of low impact: if it hurts you, there are alternatives that will bring you the same thing without the pain.

And if it hurts more afterwards

That is a sign the session did not suit you, not that sport is bad for you. You change the load, the duration, or the type of movement. You do not stop moving.

These pointers do not replace the advice of your doctor or your physiotherapist, who knows your stage and your joints.