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NCT Number: NCT07558317

The Effect of Resistance Exercise in Patients With Lower Limb Lymphedema (the LymphEx Study)

The aim of the study is to investigate the short-term (within 2 weeks) effects of resistance exercise with and without compression garments on lower limb lymphedema(LLL). Additionally, the study will explore the immediate response in LLL to resistance exercise (2 hours and 24 hours post-exercise).

Participants will continously wear a circumfencential sensor at the calf (CIMON from Icompression) under a compression garment and an activity tracker (SENS Motion from SENS Innovation Aps) at the thigh for 3 periods (two with supervised exercise sessions of 2 weeks and one control period).

Participants will attend supervised resistance exercise 2-3 times per week for 2 periods of 2 weeks (one with compression garment and one without). Assessments with the principal investigator will be scheduled before and after every 2 week period. Participants will keep a digital diary or diary in paper of their lymphedema related symptoms and experienced issues with the sensors or app.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy

Herlev, 2730, Denmark

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Merete Wittenkamp, PhD student

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Merete Wittenkamp, PhDstudent

CONTACT

[email protected]

4593911784

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • verified diagnosis of lymphedema of the lower limb
  • completed compression bandaging
  • adherence to compression garment in daytime (minumum 5-6 days per week)
  • calf circumference > 35 and <75 cm

Exclusion criteria

  • severe neuropathy of the lower leg
  • severe skin problems or wounds at the lower leg
  • cellulitis, DVT or acute injuries of the lower limb < 2 months prior to inclusion
  • ongoing adjuvant treatment for cancer

Treatment and study plan

Resistance Exercise

Other

Supervised resistance exercise targeted at the larger muscle groups in the lower limbs, 5 exercises, 3 sets of 10RM

Primary outcomes

  1. Lower leg circumference

    Time frame: 14 days

    circumferential sensor CIMON, measured in Picoferens (pF)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Lower Limb volume

    Time frame: 14 days

    perometry, volume (mL)

  2. Lower Limb volume

    Time frame: 14 days

    circumferential measurements, 8 cm interval, converted to volume (mL)

  3. Edema of the foot and ankle

    Time frame: 14 days

    Figure of eight with tape measure, (cm)

  4. Extracellular fluid of the lower limb

    Time frame: 14 days

    Bioimpedance Spectroscophy, (L-dex)

  5. Body composition

    Time frame: 14 days

    Bioimpedance Spectroscophy, One measurement provides the following data: Total Body Water (L/%) , Extracellular fluid (L/%), Intracellular fluid (L/%), Skeletal muscle mass (kg/%), Fat mass (kg/%), Fat free mass (kg/%)

  6. Segmental body composition of the lower limbs

    Time frame: 14 days

    Bioimpedence Spectroscophy, One measurement provides the following data: Total Body water (L), Extracellular fluid (L), Intracellular fluid (L), Skeletal Muscle Mass(kg), Lean soft tissue (kg)

  7. Self reported lymphedema symptoms

    Time frame: 14 days

    Pain, tension, heaviness, tinkling, numeric ranking scale 0-10

  8. Physical activity

    Time frame: 14 days

    Daily number of minutes in activity (defined as the sum of time spent with standing, walking, cycling and high intensity activity) registered by a activity sensor (SENS Motion). Level of physical activity time per 24 hours at the following categories: lying, sitting, standing, walking, brisk walking, biking, high intensity activity

  9. Adverse events

    Time frame: 14 days

    E.g. skin irritation, cellulitis, severe muscle injury, number of events

  10. Adherence to compression

    Time frame: 14 days

    Adherence to compression garments = 7 days a week, yes or no, if no - number of days with compression per participant

  11. Adherence to study

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    Completion of supervised exercise sessions and application of the sensors, number of exercise sessions attended and number of days with sensors applied per participant

  12. Withdrawal from study

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    Number of participants and reasons for withdrawal

  13. Adherence to study

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    Completion of supervised exercise sessions and application of the sensors, number of exercise sessions attended and number of days with sensors applied

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Merete C Wittenkamp, PhD student

CONTACT

[email protected]

93911784

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Carsten Bogh Juhl

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Resistance Exercise in Patients With Lower Limb Lymphedema - With and With-out Compression - a Randomized Controlled Trial (the LymphEx Study)

Acronym: LymphEx

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Apr 30, 2026
Registry last updated
May 6, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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