Lipedema is estimated to affect 11% of the female population. It is a chronic condition involving a disruption in the formation of fatty tissue. Due to a lack of awareness, this condition is often underestimated. Pain, restricted movement, increasing edema, and a negative body image are problems that many lipedema patients struggle with. Treatments often have little effect on the symptoms.
The bellicon® mini-trampoline is used to reduce lipedema patients’ symptoms. The results are striking! The majority of participants experience fewer symptoms related to their lipedema when using the bellicon®.
Lisanne van Heijst has researched the use of the bellicon® for edema. You can find all the results of this research in this post.
C.Visser: “I have lipedema in my upper and lower arms and upper and lower legs. I can finally move without experiencing pain. Bouncing gives me good fluid drainage throughout the day. It’s no longer ‘collecting’. And because of that, I no longer have to get up at night to go to the toilet. For the first time in years, I finally have an uninterrupted night’s sleep again!!”
What is the effect of ten weeks of daily bouncing on the bellicon® in women in the Netherlands with lipedema?
The research: the largest part of the research consisted of practical field research. In addition, a questionnaire study was conducted with three lipedema patients who did not take part in the practical research, and with one physiotherapist and edema therapist who uses the bellicon in her practice with lipedema patients.
Treatment: treatments for edema aim to slow the progression of lipedema, reduce symptoms, and prevent complications. Patients are often treated by means of manual lymphatic drainage combined with compression therapy and therapeutic elastic stockings. This has a moderately positive effect on the symptoms. The surgical treatment of liposuction is safe and shows longer-term results, but even with this, symptoms can return because the underlying cause of lipedema is not removed.
The bellicon® is also used by lipedema patients to reduce their symptoms. Through training on the bellicon®, the lymphatic system more effectively removes waste products and bacteria from the body, and all the muscles in the body are trained. Using fluoroscopy, lymphatic transport was examined in a test subject. This test shows that lymph flow is 2 to 3 times faster during exercises on the bellicon® than the same exercise performed on the ground.
Anja: “I bought it because I have lipedema and, as a result, also retain fluid. Recently I underwent two liposuction operations on the inside and outside of my legs. After the second operation on the inside of the legs, I still retain quite a lot of fluid in my calves. The bellicon helps me reduce this!”
It’s notable that the greatest improvement is seen in the majority of symptoms, namely: leg pain, a heavy feeling in the legs, reduced leg pain, leg fatigue, poor fitness, low muscle strength, and problems climbing stairs. It’s also notable that, for symptoms of hypersensitivity in the legs, bruising, and getting up from a low chair, the majority showed no change.
There is no change in the bruising that occurs quickly with lipedema, and no change in the rapid increase in pain during movement. Fitness has, however, improved with the right build-up of training on the bellicon®, muscle strength improves, and problems climbing stairs decrease. Moving on the bellicon® activates the foot and calf muscle pump, stimulates lymphatic drainage, reduces edema formation, and reduces the risk of obesity.
The research further shows that the bellicon® has a beneficial effect on fatigue: from the moment you use the bellicon®, you notice an energy boost for the rest of the day. Test subjects report feeling better in their own skin.
Finally, several patients show a reduction in measurements. Because most lipedema patients also suffer from lymphedema symptoms, this is difficult to measure, and measurements tend to fluctuate more. Skin structure improves by 37.5%, skin liftability by 37.5%, and both mobility and consistency by 31.5% each, with ten weeks of bellicon® use.
Bianca Timmers:
“Alongside the treatments at the skin clinic, I also exercise on the bellicon (mini-trampoline). For me, this is a way to exercise without a lot of pain while still losing a few centimeters and keeping my fluid balance in check.
It has cost me a lot of energy and time, but I’m thrilled with the result I’ve achieved.”
Thanks to Lisanne van Heijst and all the participants who made this research possible.