Lymphedema Adaptive Clothing Exploration: A Scoping Review of Clothing Challenges for People Living with Lymphedema

Lymphedema consists of swelling that impedes movement and compromises quality of life. It is estimated that 250 million people worldwide have a diagnosis of lymphedema. People living with lymphedema often have difficulty sourcing everyday clothing that fits over compression garments and swollen limbs. A scoping review was conducted to gain deeper insight into the current state of the literature addressing lymphedema-specific clothing issues and identifying knowledge gaps.

The five-stage Arksey and O'Malley framework guided the review process. Five electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO) were searched for articles written in English from 2004 to 2024. Ten studies addressing lymphedema clothing issues were included in the analysis. Articles varied widely across disciplines, publication dates, and journals. Common themes of clothing function challenges, aesthetic considerations, social/cultural stigma related to clothing, and textile development (sensors) were identified. Children and women were noted to have significant issues sourcing aesthetically acceptable footwear and are often impacted by cultural stigma. Activity restriction (e.g., ill-fitting clothing) negatively impacted the quality of life. Self-esteem can be compromised by social stigma from a swollen limb and inability to wear appropriate clothing. Uniqueness of human anatomy and presenting lymphedema symptoms challenges the development of effective textile sensors.

The dearth of available literature (10 studies) highlights the critical need to address clothing issues in this population through collaborative research initiatives. Preferences and needs should be solicited and thoughtfully integrated into the development of lymphedema-appropriate clothing to maximize the quality of life and support lymphedema self-management.