Effects of TECAR Therapy in Lipedema Management

The physicians wanted to show the efficacy of a physical therapy device, Transfer Energy Capacitive and Resistive (TECAR) therapy, in women with lipedema which is an abnormal fat buildup on both sides of lower body. They focused on lower limb circumference, pain, functional capacity, and quality of life.

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Transfer Energy Capacitive and Resistive (TECAR) therapy in women with Stage 2 lipedema, focusing on limb circumference, pain, functional status, and quality of life. A prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 female patients diagnosed with Stage 2 lipedema. Participants were randomized to a TECAR therapy group (n=15) or a control group (n=15). Both groups received compression garments and a structured exercise program; the TECAR group additionally underwent six TECAR sessions over three weeks. Outcomes included lower limb circumference, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), and Lymphedema Quality of Life Questionnaire-Leg (LYMQOL-Leg), assessed at baseline and at one and three months post-treatment. TECAR therapy resulted in greater reductions in lower limb circumference compared to standard care, with sustained improvement in the supramalleolar region at three months (p\<0.05). A significant short-term reduction in pain was observed at one month (p = 0.003) only in the TECAR group, but this effect was not maintained at three months (p \> 0.05). Functional scores trended toward improvement without reaching significance (p=0.058). The overall quality of life score improved significantly in the TECAR group (p=0.002), although individual LYMQOL subdomains including function, appearance, mood, or symptoms did not reach statistical significance (p \> 0.05). As an adjunct to standard care, TECAR therapy appears to reduce pain and limb volume and enhance overall quality of life in Stage 2 lipedema. Further long-term studies are needed to confirm these findings.