The first time I heard the word lipedema was in my Certified Lymphedema Therapist class. We were discussing differential diagnosis for lymphedema.


A few years later when a wonderfully kind new client asked for an appointment to relieve swelling after her lipedema liposuction surgery, I happily accepted.


I knew what lipedema was - sort of. I could just pop on to the internet, do a little research, and be ready to help her by the time she arrived.


Guess what I found on the Internet about massage therapy and lipedema?


Little to nothing.


That frustration inspired me to write Lipedema Treatment Guide to provide a resource for clients with lipedema.


But how could I help my fellow therapists? Busy therapists who may not have time to read a lengthy, thorough book on the disease.


I created Lipedema Awareness for Massage Therapists - taking the research in my book and putting it into a quick, focused class.


We'll cover:


  • The basics about Lipedema


  • How the disease affects the body


  • Resources to research different massage approaches for lessening symptoms of this chronic, progressive disease.


  • Resources to help you decipher the supplements you may see listed on your client's health history form.


Take this class if you are looking to go from hesitant to informed and confident when planning a customized massage for your clients with a lipedema diagnosis.


UPDATE: I am so proud to announce the publication of the 'Standard of Care for Lipedema in the United States'

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02683555211015887

Lipedema Massage CEU

Course Curriculum

  Course contents
Available in days
days after you enroll

Hi, I’m Kathleen Lisson


Kathleen Lisson is board certified in therapeutic massage and bodywork and is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist. She owns Solace Massage and Mindfulness, has taught classes at IPSB Massage College in San Diego, and is a NCBTMB Preferred Provider. She is the author of Lipedema Treatment Guide, Plastic Surgery Recovery Handbook and Swollen, Bloated and Puffy: A Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapist’s Guide to Reducing Swelling in the Face and Body. Kathleen holds a Bachelors of Applied Science degree in Massage Therapy, and is an NHI (Natural Healing Institute of Naturopathy) Certified Master Aromatherapist, an MMI (McLean Meditation Institute) Certified Meditation Teacher, and an ACE-certified Personal Trainer. She is certified to present Peggy Huddleston’s “Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster” workshop.


She was a speaker at the 2018 and 2019 Fat Disorders Resource Society conferences, a keynote speaker at the 2019 MLD UK conference and completed the Lymphedema Therapy Advanced and Review class at the Földi Clinic in Hinterzarten, Germany.


Kathleen is a member of the United States of America Lipedema Standard of Care Consensus Committee. The first United States (US) Standard of Care meeting for lipedema was held on April 11-12, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland in association with the Fat Disorders Resource Society 2019 conference. This effort was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). This landmark meeting was a multidisciplinary collaborative effort with 21-US based members with expertise in lipedema. This meeting was the first step towards the development of a national guideline for the diagnosis and management of lipedema.

Lipedema Massage CEU class

Approved for 1 CEU Hour

Pass the quiz with a grade of 70%

and receive 1 CEU hour

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After taking Lipedema Awareness for Massage Therapists, students will go from hesitant to informed and confident when planning a customized massage for clients with a lipedema diagnosis.


We will discuss what is happening in the body including common lipedema symptoms and complications. We will hear from massage therapists who help clients with lipedema and look at different massage modalities. We will look at tools and practices that can make clients comfortable and collect resources that can help therapists understand the medications on a client's health history form. Lastly, we will look at how to use the client's health history form and Lipedema Intake Form to help with session design.


Learning Objectives and Outcome


Students will describe the most common symptoms of lipedema. 

 

Students will describe types of massage that can help reduce symptoms of lipedema

 

Students will describe ways to accommodate clients in larger bodies


Student will demonstrate how to use information from the client interview and health history form to design a massage session for a client with lipedema