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Lipoedema is an inflammatory condition affecting loose connective tissue. ‘Loose connective tissue’ includes the tissues of skin, tendon, ligament, vasculature, gut lining, cellular membranes, immune system organs, teeth, bone, and adipose cells.

Severity of Lipoedema is measured in Stages 0 to 4 sub clinical to severe.  `0 . Later stage Lipeodema can result in Lymphatic System dysfunction and overwhelm. Diseased adipose cells cause disproportionate fat accumulation which is resistant to traditional diet and exercise protocols. 

     Lipoedema is often concomitant with obesity, lymphoedema and (Ethler Danlos Syndrome) EDS / joint hypermobility, allergies and neural hyper-responsiveness, thyroid pathologies and intestinal hyperpermeability.

     Lipoedema is thought to be multi-genomic and heterogenic with the potential to progress to severe disability. While it is currently incurable, painful, and often a diagnosis occurs only when the disease has progressed to later stage. With early diagnosis and consistent conservative measures may be sufficient to slow progression to later stages 

In Australia Lipoedema is often unrecognized resulting in late-stage and delayed or misdiagnosis and limited or no treatment options. In regional and rural areas this hole in service provision is even wider. Symptoms associated with gut hyperpermeability can include but are not limited to chronic low/high grade inflammation, exhaustion, sleep disturbance headache/migraines, depression anxiety, and endocrine dysfunction.

       Ligamentous hyperlaxity and high Beighton scores are common though not always to the severity of clinical EDS. Chronic sporting injuries, foot collapse, pain wearing shoes and difficulty finding shoes wide enough as fore foot spreads with progression of disease and correlating weight increase.

      Weight bearing joints can deteriorate in stability and function with progression to disability. The foot, ankle, knee, and hip joints can present with rheumatoid /osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, anxiety, inflammation, flat feet, genu valgus, pelvic tilt/rotation imbalances locked short abdominals compressed thorax, and defensive patterning all commonly inhibit mobility. Changes in form due to the deformity of the Limbs and the instability of the joints. Architectural imbalance causes gait and posture changes that add to pain, immobility, and further pathologies which in turn perpetuates the cycle. These are all areas which can be mediated with early intervention