Pilates Fitness Friday: Lipoedema and movement.
- Michael King
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Pilates Fitness Friday often gives me a chance to step slightly sideways from pure Pilates and talk more broadly about movement, fitness, and real bodies. Lipoedema is one of those conditions where this wider conversation matters. Not because exercise fixes it. It does not. But because the right kind of movement helps people live more comfortably in their bodies.
When I am working with someone who has lipoedema, I start by resetting expectations. Exercise is support. It is not correction. It is not a weight loss tool for affected tissue. It is there to help circulation, joint health, mobility, mood, and confidence. Once that pressure comes off, people often relax and start moving with more trust.
The NHS guidance is refreshingly sensible. Stay active. Choose exercise you tolerate well. Avoid activity that leaves you in pain or significantly more swollen for days afterward. This fits well with what many people already feel in their own bodies. Consistency tends to help more than intensity. Shorter, regular sessions usually beat occasional heroic workouts.
In practical terms, low impact aerobic work often works best. Walking remains one of the most accessible options. Done little and often, it supports circulation without overwhelming the tissues. Softer surfaces help, and adding incline rather than speed often feels kinder on the legs. Cycling is another useful option, especially for people who struggle with impact. The legs keep moving, the joints stay supported, and many people report less post exercise heaviness.
Water based exercise deserves far more attention than it gets. Swimming, aqua fitness, or even simple water walking offer natural compression from the water itself. This reduces load through the joints and often leaves the legs feeling lighter rather than heavier afterward. For some clients, water is where movement finally feels possible again.
Strength work still belongs in the picture, but with care. Heavy loading too soon often backfires. Bodyweight exercises, resistance bands, and lighter weights allow strength gains without provoking symptoms. Higher repetitions with good control usually suit better than pushing maximal effort. The goal is support and resilience, not exhaustion.
Mobility also plays a quiet but important role. Regular movement through the hips, knees, ankles, and feet supports walking mechanics and balance. It also helps people feel more confident in everyday movement, which often matters more than any specific exercise choice.
Compression garments usually stay on during land based exercise. Many people find they reduce post session heaviness and tenderness. In water, the pool itself provides compression, so garments are usually not needed.
There are also times when exercise needs to soften. Flare ups happen. Hormonal changes affect symptoms. On days when pain or swelling increases, gentler movement or rest is part of good management. Rest is not a failure. It is a response to information the body is giving.
From a teaching and coaching perspective, language matters more than we sometimes realise. Avoid promises about changing body shape. Focus instead on how movement supports function, comfort, and daily life. Ask how someone feels the next day, not only how the session felt at the time. That delayed response tells you far more.
When recommending other fitness activities alongside Pilates, I keep the tone invitational. Offer options rather than rules. Encourage curiosity rather than compliance. People living with lipoedema already deal with enough judgement. Movement should feel supportive, not like another thing they are getting wrong.
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