Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40970229›Full record

ArticleCureus2025

Radioelectric Asymmetric Conveyer (REAC) Neuropostural Optimization (NPO) for Pain in Lipedema: A Sham-Controlled Study.

Vania Fontani, Arianna Rinaldi, Alessandro Castagna, Salvatore Rinaldi

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Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Vania FontaniDepartment of Research, Rinaldi Fontani Foundation, Florence, ITA.
Arianna RinaldiDepartment of Regenerative Medicine, Rinaldi Fontani Institute, Florence, ITA.
Alessandro CastagnaDepartment of Research, Rinaldi Fontani Foundation, Florence, ITA.
Salvatore RinaldiDepartment of Research, Rinaldi Fontani Foundation, Florence, ITA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLipedema is a chronic disorder characterized by symmetrical and disproportionate fat accumulation, pain, and easy bruising, often resistant to conventional treatments. Functional dysmetria (FD), a maladaptive neuromotor response linked to epigenetic stress, has been proposed as a relevant contributor to pain in lipedema.

objectiveThis retrospective observational study aimed to evaluate whether correcting FD through the radioelectric asymmetric conveyer (REAC) technology Neuropostural Optimization (NPO) protocol can reduce pain in patients with lipedema, using a sham-controlled design.

methodsIn this retrospective observational study, 83 consecutive women with stage 2-5 lipedema underwent both sham and real NPO procedures during a single session. Pain intensity was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS) immediately after each procedure. Statistical analyses were performed using paired t-tests with effect sizes (Cohen's dz) and 95% confidence intervals.

resultsBaseline pain was uniformly high (mean 7.41 ± 0.53), with some pre-sham values reaching 10/10. Pain reduction was observed exclusively after real NPO and not after sham. Sham NPO induced no significant changes, whereas real NPO yielded a mean pain reduction exceeding 3.5 VAS points across all stages (mean change -3.65 ± 0.62; 95% CI: -3.79 to -3.51; Cohen's dz = 5.88, 95% CI: 4.85-6.92; p < 0.0001).

conclusionsThese findings suggest that correction of FD by REAC NPO provides rapid and clinically meaningful analgesic effects in lipedema patients, addressing an upstream neuropsychomotor dysfunction that may contribute to disease progression. However, given the retrospective single-center design and absence of long-term follow-up, these conclusions are limited to the short-term effects observed. Further multicenter and longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these results and evaluate long-term outcomes.

Indexed as

epigenetic stressfunctional dysmetrialipedemaneuromodulationneuropostural optimization (npo)noninvasive treatmentpain reductionradioelectric asymmetric conveyer (reac)sham-controlled studyvisual analog scale (vas)

Identifiers

PMID40970229
PMCPMC12441218

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.