Lymphedema
Conditions
Brief summary
Chronic lymphedema in the lower extremities is a common problem found in older adults that can result in cellulitis, poor wound healing, venous stasis ulcers, and other comorbidities. Compressive therapies are the present gold standard for the manual treatment of lymphedema in the lower extremities. However, the benefits of these compressive therapies are modest, and they are not well tolerated by older adults. An alternative manual treatment is the osteopathic pedal pump, an osteopathic manipulative treatment, that uses a rhythmical pumping motion instead of compressive force to move interstitial fluid from the lower extremities back to the circulatory system. However, the evidence that the osteopathic pedal pump can reduce volume in the lower extremities remains anecdotal. The aim of this study is to determine if the osteopathic pedal pump can reduce volume in the lower extremities among older adults with chronic lymphedema. Leg volume will be measured using water displacement. Older adults with chronic lymphedema of the lower extremities will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: a treatment group that will receive one session of the osteopathic pedal pump and a control group that will receive one session of a light touch treatment.
Interventions
OTHEROsteopathic Pedal Pump
Participants randomized to this condition will receive 5 minutes of myofascial release to the thoracic inlet and 5 minutes of the pedal pump technique.
OTHERLight Touch Treatment
Participants randomized to receive the sham treatment will receive light touch from the operator on the base of the neck and the balls of the feet. This light touch is meant to mimic the pedal pump through touching the same areas of the body but without palpating so that no lymphatic fluid is removed from the lower limbs.
Sponsors
Rowan University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)
Masking description
The investigator who will be responsible for carrying out the measurements of lower limb volume via water displacement will be blinded to the condition each participant is randomized to. Withholding this information from the investigator conducing the measurements will prevent this information from influencing how the measurements are conducted and therefore removing bias that could skew the results in support of the study's hypotheses (i.e., that the pedal pump does reduce lower limb volume in older adults with lower extremity lymphedema).
Intervention model description
Fifty two participants will be randomized to one of two conditions: to receive the osteopathic pedal pump (treatment group) or to receive a light tough treatment (control group).
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
55 Years to 100 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age 55 years old or older * Have lower leg lymphedema
Exclusion criteria
* Any type of acute medical issue or exacerbation * A chronic medical condition (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure) * An active tissue infection or an open wound in the lower limb * An active bone fracture * Acute deep venous thrombosis not fully anticoagulated * Dementia
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in limb volume | The time frame in which the pre and post-treatment measurements will take place in one session that will take approximately 30-45 minutes. | Difference in lower limb volume, as measured by water displacement, from pre to post-treatment. |
Countries
United States
Contacts
Primary ContactMatt McLaughlin
Outcome results
None listed