Exercise interventions for lower limb lymphedema: A scoping review of intervention characteristics and outcomes

This scoping review aimed to summarize the existing evidence regarding exercise interventions in individuals with lower limb lymphedema (LLL), focusing on intervention characteristics, outcome measures, and reported effects. Methods A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). This study was conducted using a scoping review design to examine the existing literature on the effects of exercise interventions in LLL between January 1, 2016, and March 1, 2026. Studies investigating any type of exercise intervention in adults with primary or secondary LLL were included. Data on study characteristics, participant demographics, exercise protocols, outcome measures, and key findings were extracted and synthesized descriptively. Results Eighteen studies investigating exercise interventions for lower limb lymphedema were included. Most participants were women with secondary lymphedema following gynecological cancer treatment. Exercise, frequently combined with compression or complex decongestive therapy, was associated with reductions in limb volume and edema, as well as improvements in pain, functional capacity, walking performance, and quality of life. Preventive exercise programs also reduced the incidence or delayed the onset of lymphedema in several studies. Across all included studies, exercise was well tolerated, with no evidence of lymphedema exacerbation or serious adverse events. However, substantial heterogeneity was observed in exercise protocols, intervention duration, and outcome measures. Conclusion The studies reviewed in this review demonstrate that exercise is a safe, feasible, and effective approach to managing lower-extremity lymphedema. Active exercise combined with compression therapy significantly reduces edema volume.