Can alternating lower body negative and positive pressure during exercise alter regional body fat distribution or skin appearance?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether physical activity, with and without lower body pressure, leads to increased regional fat loss in the lower extremities of overweight females. Eighty-six obese women with a female phenotype were randomly assigned into four groups: control group (C), diet only (D), diet plus exercise (DE) or diet, exercise and lower body pressure intervention (DEP). The three treatment groups followed the same diet, the two exercise groups (DE and DEP) additionally followed an endurance training program of 30 min of cycling at 50%VO(2)max three times per week with or without lower body pressure. Body composition and fat distribution were assessed by DXA. Body size circumference measurements were recorded as well as subjective ratings of cellulite and skin appearance. As expected, all test groups (D, DE, DEP) showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in total body mass and fat mass. DXA revealed significant differences between the experimental groups and C. The DEP group also lost significantly more body mass and fat mass when compared with D, while no significant difference was observed between the other groups. A similar pattern was seen for circumference measurement data. A significant perceived improvement was made by the DEP group when compared with C, D and DE groups for skin condition and also between the DEP versus C and D groups for cellulite. The combination of diet and exercise is successful for weight reduction. The additional application of lower body pressure especially affects skin appearance.

Exercise-Based Approaches to the Treatment of Cellulite

“…However, the application of LBP to the lower extremities was especially appropriate to improve skin appearance and cellulite. 10 These results show that Hypoxi training may be a safe and applicable treatment for cellulite.…”

“…Today, nonpharmacological treatments receive more attention in the world, and a variety of proposed noninvasive methods for the treatment of cellulite includes weight loss using calorie restriction, massages, the use of topical creams, oral supplements (weight-management supplements), phototherapy with infrared waves, and shockwave therapy alone or in combination with some kinds of exercise training. 7,8,10,11 Regular running, 8 cycling, 10 or resistance training 11 can help improve the appearance of cellulite through controlling body weight or increasing muscle strength. In this context, Paolillo et al examined the effects of a new noninvasive method including infrared-LED (850 nm) plus endurance training on a group of 25-55 years old women.…”

“…Because a lower body negative/positive pressure leads to changes in the peripheral blood flow, the question was raised whether exercise training with lower body pressure (LBP) can increase regional fat loss and decrease ratings of cellulite in the lower extremities of overweight women. 10 In a randomized controlled trial, 86 obese women were randomly assigned to one of four 12-week interventions, including a control group (no intervention), diet only group, diet plus exercise group, and a diet, exercise, and LBP group. The 3 treatment groups followed the same diet (350-500 kcal/d below the calculated energy requirements), and the 2 exercise groups additionally followed an endurance training program of three sessions of cycling per week at 50% VO 2max for 30 minutes, with or without LBP (an initial constant high pressure of 7.5 mm Hg for 4 minutes, followed by alternating under-and overpressure of between −15 and +15 mm Hg at intervals of 20 seconds).…”

“…[6][7][8][9] Cellulite, an undesirable cosmetic problem, can lead to considerable distress for women, specifically younger women, and potentially impair their self-esteem and quality of life. 1,8,10,11 Thus, investigating effective and suitable methods for the control and treatment of cellulite is highly important. Although exercise and weight loss have been proposed as means of improving cellulite, 9 few studies to date have examined the role of exercise training in treating cellulite.…”

Cellulite treatment: a comprehensive literature review

“…Among the studies searched up, 63 tested the effectiveness of an exclusive treatment performed without the association to other procedures: 11 topical agents, 10 extracorporeal shock‐wave therapy, 10 radio frequency, eight laser therapy, five oral therapy (three pill‐based therapy and two juice therapy), four manual massage therapy, three carbon dioxide therapy, two compressive therapy, two infrared therapy, one dermabrasion, and 11 devices that use a association of multiple treatments (massaging, rolling, sucking, infrared, and radiofrequency). The combined treatments were the following: intense pulsed light and retinyl‐based cream, Nd: YAG laser combined with autologous fat transplantation, dual‐wave length laser and massage, topical agents in conjunction with a low‐calorie diet, exercise and lower body pressure intervention, laser therapy and vibration therapy, cryolipolysis, and shock‐wave therapy …”