Massage therapists — have you ever had a client with lipedema? How can you help them? What type of massage modality should you use? Let’s meet a few massage therapists in the United States that help clients with a lipedema diagnosis.
Massage Therapist Kelly Konicki
What brought you to massage therapy?
Massage is what helped me heal after my doctor gave me pain pills and said best of luck to you when I was injured in a car accident more than 2 decades ago. A friend of the family suggested massage and within a month my massage therapist helped me become completely pain free. Needless to say, she had my attention. I became fascinated by how someone could lay hands on me and take my pain away when my doctor had no idea what to do for me. That opened my eyes regarding what holistic care could do for my body.
How did you first get interested in helping people with lipedema?
Last year my friend told me she had lipedema. She was frustrated, angry, and in despair. I had no idea what it was, so I started doing some research so I could understand what she was dealing with and how I could support her journey. The more I read the more I realized… “that’s me”.
Around that same time I had my first client come to me talking about having lipedema and the pain she was in. I’ve since started working with a few women who have the condition.
I’m working to start a support/resource group in my area to help people find locals who can assist them through their personal journeys.
What massage class did you find most valuable when treating clients with lipedema? What did you find most valuable in each training class?
Lymphatic drainage has been the most helpful in helping reducing fluid retention in the legs.
There’s two schools of thought in my opinion. First, focusing on lymphatic drainage to help reduce swelling from a sluggish lymphatic system. Second, simply wanting to feel normal again and having a moment where it’s not about the condition.
What I’d like to see is consideration of both in a class. How to incorporate treatment for lipedema/lymphatic system and care for the person beyond the genetic condition. We all have aches and pains that need to be addressed, yet lymphatic drainage is such a light touch modality many times clients feel they have to choose one thing over another. I don’t know what that technique looks like just yet, but I’d love to come up with something that can serve a dual purpose if possible.
What problems have you run into massaging clients with lipedema?
Lipedema clients straddle two worlds… one where some want a relaxation and/or deep tissue massage yet also want lymphatic drainage in the same session. As you know, that’s often two sides to the same coin since the lymphatic system is shallow in the body. Clients don’t always see an immediate change with a lymphatic drainage massage that they wonder why they’re doing it at all.
What are the necessary supplies/tools/items do you need to set your room up for a client with lipedema?
I treat all my clients the same in that I use aromatherapy, warm towels, etc. to heighten their massage experience. Does warm compression help with the session, perhaps only with a sense of feeling pampered. But, if it helps the client center themselves, it’s worth it.
I also use kinesio tape to hold open lymphatic channels in between sessions to encourage proper drainage.
Massage Therapist Sherri Scott
What brought you to massage therapy?
I always was drawn to all sorts of natural therapies. I squandered my opportunity to become a nurse when I was younger and to me this was a way to nurture and help people.
How did you first get interested in helping people with lipedema?
I learned about lipedema when I went for certification for manual lymphatic drainage. There is where I first heard the term and to my surprise, I realized I have lipedema! It answered so many questions for me and I wanted to share the information with other women who had this condition and never heard of it. I sought out more information and found a group on facebook dedicated to lipedema. I also made my own awareness facebook page, Lipedema The Misunderstood Fat.
What massage class did you find most valuable when treating clients with lipedema?
Manual Lymphatic Drainage-Academy of Lymphatic Studies
Vacuum Cupping/Medicupping- Anita Shannon
What did you find most valuable in each training class?
Manual Lymphatic Drainage-I believe it’s the foundation of knowing how to approach the body with the intention of affecting the lymphatic system.
Vacuum Cupping-Medicupping-this modality helps loosen adhesions, fibrotic tissue, promote lymph drainage and can help reduce pain and inflammation when used properly.
What problems have you run into massaging clients with lipedema?
I don’t think I necessarily have any problems massaging clients with lipedema, it’s just
that some clients have very low tolerance to pressure and others are able to take a little more.
What are the necessary supplies/tools/items do you need to set your room up for a client with lipedema?
I enjoy using vacuum cupping. With a Medicupping machine, I’m able to adjust the suction to very light enabling me to mimic lymphatic drainage that is normally done with hands. I make sure to have enough pillow and bolsters for comfort on the table. I also have KT tape because once in a while I’ll use it to help with edema. Most of my clients don’t use compression.
Like most therapists, I needed a career change and was drawn to massage after it helped me to prepare for hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro. During my first semester, I learned about Oncology Massage and wanted to complete that training as soon as possible. They actually let me complete the classroom part before I was certified as a massage therapist in California, and I completed the hands on work at Moores Cancer Center in San Diego as soon as I became certified.
How did you first get interested in helping people with lipedema?
I had learned about lipedema in my Klose Training Certified Lymphedema Therapist class. I had a client call for MLD after her liposuction for lipedema, and I realized how little information there was online about lipedema when I was doing research to prepare for her appointment.
What massage class did you find most valuable when treating clients with lipedema? What did you find most valuable in each training class?
The Klose 45 hour lymphatic drainage class was most valuable. I also use a combination of Swedish, hot stones and massage cupping during my full body massage sessions. People with lipedema get sore necks and backs just like everyone else.
What problems have you run into massaging clients with lipedema?
During massage, I have to use much less pressure after lipedema liposuction than I would on the leg of a person with no lipedema who had liposuction. The client’s swelling persists for a longer period of time.
What are the necessary supplies/tools/items do you need to set your room up for a client with lipedema?
I use all my normal tools — hot stones, massage cupping, jojoba oil. It’s important to see a person with lipedema as a whole body, mind and spirit, not just a set of legs to ‘fix’ with massage. I use a Lounge Doctor bolster to enhance drainage of the legs. I lower my hydraulic table as low as I can so they can get on the table comfortably. I also have armless Hercules chairs rated to hold 1000 pounds in the waiting room and my treatment room. These chairs are also very post-BBL friendly because they don’t have arms!
