Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy has proven itself quite effective on pain. 5 decades of Eastern European research proved pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) highly effective in a diverse range of therapeutic applications with no side-effects or adverse reactions. Got pain?...pulsed electromagnetic fields are probably the answer to your prayers.
Magnet therapy using permanent magnets has been used in pain management for centuries, particularly in Asia. Magnetic therapy using static-field magnets has been proven more effective than placebo, though effects not nearly as great as with pulsed electromagnetic field. The most successful peer reviewed static-magnetic field studies are being performed in Asia. Unlike PEMF, static magnetic field effects generally take weeks and months to manifest. Frequency specificity in
pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy is currently being
investigated in the West after Eastern European research found
particular frequencies useful more than 3 decades ago. I
caution against the use of pulsed radiofrequency as it
actually destroys pain signal pathways, not repair them.
The use of pulsed
electromagnetic field therapy is relatively new protocol for
pain in the West, but over the last 3 decades has proven to be
side-effect free and at least somewhat effective based upon
the following studies which rarely utilize the most effective
protocols. Rarely do peer-reviewed PEMF studies prove less
effective than placebo;...when they do, frequency, amplitude
and wave-form are questionable. In the past year or so, PEMF
applied locally to source of pain (so as to heal the source of
pain) has yielded to more studies of rTMS (repetitive
transcranial magnetic stimulation) and analgesic effect in the
brain. A combination of both would be well served.
EarthPulse™ is modeled after Eastern European's most effective and well tested frequencies and wave-forms, in a very adaptable system that is primarily designed for nighttime use, however can be applied locally. If it doesn't exceed your expectations (for any purpose), just return it for a full refund (less shipping charges).
If you've got fibromyalgia pain (or migraine headaches), PEMF is the answer to your prayers and we have seen it fail very, very rarely. Neither Migraine nor Fibromyalgia and pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been well researched in the peer-reviewed journals so you will only find a few references . Another failure by the medical mainstream to pay attention or a concerted effort to ignore them.
See also PEMF Fibromyalgia Pain Bibliography and PEMF Migraine Bibliography
Neurol Res. 2011
Nov;33(9):953-8.
Long-term
antalgic effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic
stimulation of motor cortex and serum beta-endorphin in
patients with phantom pain.
Ahmed MA, Mohamed SA, Sayed D.
Source
Assiut University Hospital, Egypt.
Pain. 2011
Nov;152(11):2477-84. Epub 2011 Jul 20.
Ten
sessions of adjunctive left prefrontal rTMS significantly
reduces fibromyalgia pain: a randomized, controlled pilot
study.
Short EB, Borckardt JJ, Anderson BS, Frohman H, Beam W, Reeves
ST, George MS.
Source
Brain Stimulation Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and
Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67
President St., PO Box 250861, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
shorteb@musc.edu
Brain Stimul. 2011
Oct;4(4):210-217.e1. Epub 2010 Dec 17.
rTMS over
the cerebellum modulates temperature detection and pain
thresholds through peripheral mechanisms.
Zunhammer M, Busch V,
Griesbach F, Landgrebe M, Hajak G, Langguth B.
Source
Department of
Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University of
Regensburg, Germany.
Pain. 2011
Feb;152(2):320-6. Epub 2010 Dec 10.
Neuropharmacological
basis of rTMS-induced analgesia: the role of endogenous
opioids.
de Andrade DC, Mhalla A, Adam F, Texeira MJ, Bouhassira D.
Source
Centre d'Evaluation et de Traitement de la Douleur, Ambroise
Paré, Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
Case Report Med.
2011;2011:130751. Epub 2011 May 11.
Phantom
limb pain: low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic
stimulation in unaffected hemisphere.
Di Rollo A, Pallanti S.
Source
Department of Psychiatry, University of Florence, 50134
Florence, Italy.
Eur J Pain. 2011
Jan;15(1):1-2. Epub 2010 Nov 20.
Repetitive
transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a tool for the
treatment of chronic visceral pain.
Villanueva L.
Eur J Pain. 2011
Jan;15(1):53-60. Epub 2010 Sep 6.
Clinical
effects and brain metabolic correlates in non-invasive
cortical neuromodulation for visceral pain.
Fregni F, Potvin K, Dasilva D, Wang X, Lenkinski RE, Freedman
SD, Pascual-Leone A.
Source
Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Beth
Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330
Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
J Pain. 2010
Nov;11(11):1203-10. Epub 2010 Apr 28.
Repetitive
transcranial magnetic stimulation is efficacious as an
add-on to pharmacological therapy in complex regional pain
syndrome (CRPS) type I.
Picarelli H, Teixeira MJ, de Andrade DC, Myczkowski ML,
Luvisotto TB, Yeng LT, Fonoff ET, Pridmore S, Marcolin MA.
Source
Clinic of Pain, Department of Neurology, University of
São Paulo, Brazil.
Clin Neurophysiol.
2010 Jun;121(6):895-901. Epub 2010 Jan 25.
Motor
cortex rTMS reduces acute pain provoked by laser stimulation
in patients with chronic neuropathic pain.
Lefaucheur JP, Jarry G, Drouot X, Ménard-Lefaucheur I,
Keravel Y, Nguyen JP.
Source
Service de Physiologie - Explorations Fonctionnelles,
Hôpital Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique -
Hôpitaux de Paris, Créteil, France.
Neurorehabil Neural
Repair. 2010 Jun;24(5):435-41. Epub 2010 Jan 6.
Reduction
of spasticity with repetitive transcranial magnetic
stimulation in patients with spinal cord injury.
Kumru H, Murillo N, Samso JV, Valls-Sole J, Edwards D, Pelayo
R, Valero-Cabre A, Tormos JM, Pascual-Leone A.
Source
Hospital de Neurorehabilitación Institut Guttmann,
Barcelona, Spain
Plast Reconstr Surg.
2009 Nov 17. [Epub ahead of print]
Effects of Pulsed
Electromagnetic Fields on IL-1beta and Post Operative Pain:
A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study in Breast
Reduction Patients.
Rohde C, Chiang A,
Adipoju O, Casper D, Pilla AA.
Source 1Division of Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center,
New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY. 2Neurosurgery
Laboratory, Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein
College of Medicine, Bronx, NY. 3Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY. 4Department of
Orthopedics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.
Int J Diabetes Dev Ctries.
2009 Apr;29(2):56-61. in this study hundreds of hertz worked;
but not healthy for your neuro system!
Evaluation
of the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field in the
management of patients with diabetic polyneuropathy.
Graak V, Chaudhary S, Bal BS, Sandhu JS.
Source
Department of Sports Medicine and Physiotherapy, Guru Nanak Dev
University, Amritsar, Punjab, India.
Ann Readapt Med Phys. 2007 Jan 2; [Epub
ahead of print] Links
[Are
SPA
therapy
and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy effective for
chronic neck pain? Randomised clinical trial First part:
clinical evaluation.]
Centre de recherche rhumatologique et thermal, BP 234, 73102
Aix-les-Bains cedex, France.
J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006 Nov;88 Suppl
3:56-60. Links
Biophysical
stimulation
with pulsed electromagnetic fields in osteonecrosis of the
femoral head.
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Advanced Therapies,
Orthopaedic Clinic, University of Ferrara, Corso della
Giovecca, 44100 Ferrara, Italy.
Altern Ther Health Med. 2006
Sep-Oct;12(5):42-9. Links
Regenerative
effects
of pulsed magnetic field on injured peripheral nerves.
Department of Biophysics, University of Cukurova School of
Medicine, Adana, Turkey.
Previous studies confirm that pulsed magnetic field (PMF)
accelerates functional recovery after a nerve crush lesion.
The contention that PMF enhances the regeneration is still
controversial, however. The influence of a new PMF application
protocol (trained PMF) on nerve regeneration was studied in a
model of crush injury of the sciatic nerve of rats. To
determine if exposure to PMF influences regeneration, we used
electrophysiological recordings and ultrastructural
examinations. After the measurements of conduction velocity,
the sucrose-gap method was used to record compound action
potentials (CAPs) from sciatic nerves. PMF treatment during
the 38 days following the crush injury enhanced the
regeneration. Although the axonal ultrastructures were
generally normal, slight to moderate myelin sheath
degeneration was noted at the lesion site. PMF application for
38 days accelerated nerve conduction velocity, increased CAP
amplitude and decreased the time to peak of the CAP.
Furthermore, corrective effects of PMF on. the abnormal
characteristics of sensory nerve fibers were determined.
Consequently, long-periodic trained-PMF may promote both
morphological and electrophysiological properties of the
injured nerves. In addition, corrective effects of PMF on
sensory fibers may be considered an important finding for
neuropathic pain therapy.
Past evidence has shown that motor cortical stimulation with
invasive and non-invasive brain stimulation is effective to
relieve central pain. Here we aimed to study the effects of
another, very safe technique of non-invasive brain
stimulation--transcranial direct current stimulation
(tDCS)--on pain control in patients with central pain due to
traumatic spinal cord injury. There was a significant pain improvement after active
anodal stimulation of the motor cortex, but not after sham
stimulation. These results were not confounded by
depression or anxiety changes. Furthermore, cognitive
performance was not significantly changed throughout the trial
in both treatment groups. The results of our study suggest
that this new approach of cortical stimulation can be
effective to control pain in patients with spinal cord lesion.
We discuss potential mechanisms for pain amelioration after
tDCS, such as a secondary modulation of thalamic nuclei
activity.
Pain. 2006 May;122(1-2):22-7.
Epub 2006 Feb 21.
Comment in: * Pain. 2006 May;122(1-2):11-3.
Reduction
of
intractable deafferentation pain by navigation-guided
repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the primary
motor cortex. Hirayama A, Saitoh Y, Kishima H, Shimokawa
T, Oshino S, Hirata M, Kato A, Yoshimine T. Department of
Neurosurgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine,
2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
The precentral gyrus (M1) (TOP OF THE
HEAD) is a representative target for electrical
stimulation therapy of pain. To date, few researchers have
investigated whether pain relief is possible by stimulation of
cortical areas other than M1. According to recent reports,
repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can
provide an effect similar to that of electrical stimulation.
With this in mind, we therefore examined several cortical
areas as stimulation targets using a navigation-guided rTMS
and compared the effects of the different targets on pain.
Twenty patients with intractable deafferentation pain received
rTMS of M1, the postcentral gyrus (S1), premotor area (preM),
and supplementary motor area (SMA). Each target was stimulated
with ten trains of 10-s 5-Hz TMS pulses, with 50-s intervals
in between trains. Intensities were adjusted to 90% of resting
motor thresholds. Thus, a total of 500 stimuli were applied.
Sham stimulations were undertaken at random. The effect of
rTMS on pain was rated by patients using a visual analogue
scale (VAS) and the short form of the McGill Pain
Questionnaire (SF-MPQ). Ten
of the 20 patients (50%) indicated that stimulation of M1,
but not other areas, provided significant and beneficial
pain relief (p<0.01). Results indicated a statistically
significant effect lasting for 3 hours after the stimulation
of M1 (p<0.05). Stimulation of other targets was
not effective. The M1 was the sole target for treating
intractable pain with rTMS, in spite of the fact that M1, S1,
preM, and SMA are located adjacently.
OBJECTIVE: Evidence suggests that fibromyalgia (FM) is a centrally mediated pain disorder. Antidepressants, including electroconvulsive therapy, provide some symptomatic relief in FM and other pain disorders. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a new antidepressant treatment, which may also be useful in treating chronic pain. All had improvement in pain, and two had complete resolution of pain. Only one of the four subjects had an antidepressant response. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest a possible role for rTMS in treating FM.
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial studied the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic therapy (PEMT) in patients with chronic lower back pain. Active PEMT (n = 17) or placebo treatment (n = 19) was performed three times a week for 3 weeks. The mean revised Oswestry disability percentage after 4 weeks was significantly improved from the baseline value in the PEMT group, whereas there were no significant differences in the placebo group. In conclusion, PEMT reduced pain and disability and appears to be a potentially useful therapeutic tool for the conservative management of chronic lower back pain.
Clin Rheumatol. 2006 Apr 22;
Effectiveness
of
pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in lateral
epicondylitis.Trakya University Medical Faculty Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Edirne, Turkey,
We aimed to investigate the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) in lateral epicondylitis comparing the modality with sham PEMF and local steroid injection. Sixty patients equally distributed into three groups as follows: Group I received PEMF, Group II sham PEMF, and Group III a corticosteroid + anesthetic agent injection. Group I patients had lower pain during rest, activity and nighttime than Group III at third month. PEMF seems to reduce lateral epicondylitis pain better than sham PEMF.
Rheumatol Int. 2006
Feb;26(4):320-4.
The
effect
of pulsed electromagnetic fields in the treatment of
cervical osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind,
sham-controlled trial. Ankara Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital, Turk ocagi S
No: 3 Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) on pain, range of motion (ROM) and functional status in patients with cervical osteoarthritis (COA) via 30 min sessions, twice a day for 3 weeks. Pain levels in the PEMF group decreased significantly after therapy (p<0.001), but no change was observed in the placebo group. The active ROM, paravertebral muscle spasm and neck pain and disability scale (NPDS) scores improved significantly after PEMF therapy (p<0.001) but no change was observed in the sham group. The results of this study are promising, in that PEMF treatment may offer a potential therapeutic adjunct to current COA therapies in the future.
Cephalalgia. 2006 Feb;26(2):143-9.
Induction
of
long-lasting changes of visual cortex excitability by five
daily sessions of repetitive transcranial magnetic
stimulation (rTMS) in healthy volunteers and migraine
patients. Fumal A, Coppola G, Bohotin V, Gerardy PY,
Seidel L, Donneau AF, Vandenheede M, Maertens de Noordhout A,
Schoenen J. Department of Neurology, University of Liege,
Belgium.
We have shown that in healthy volunteers (HV) one session of 1
Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over
the visual cortex induces dishabituation of visual evoked
potentials (VEPs) on average for 30 min, while in migraineurs
one session of 10 Hz rTMS replaces the abnormal VEP
potentiation by a normal habituation for 9 min. In the present
study, we investigated whether repeated rTMS sessions (1 Hz in
eight HV; 10 Hz in eight migraineurs) on 5 consecutive days
can modify VEPs for longer periods. Daily rTMS can thus induce long-lasting changes in
cortical excitability and VEP habituation pattern. Whether
this effect may be useful in preventative migraine therapy
remains to be determined.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the relative effectiveness of ice therapy and/or pulsed electromagnetic field in reducing pain and swelling after the immobilization period following a distal radius fracture. CONCLUSION: The addition of pulsed electromagnetic field to ice therapy produces better overall treatment outcomes than ice alone, or pulsed electromagnetic field alone in pain reduction and range of joint motion in ulnar deviation and flexion for a distal radius fracture after an immobilization period of 6 weeks.
Z Orthop Ihre Grenzgeb. 2005
Sep-Oct;143(5):544-50.
[Adjuvant
treatment
of knee osteoarthritis with weak pulsing magnetic fields.
Results of a placebo-controlled trial prospective clinical
trial] Fischer G, Pelka RB, Barovic J.Institut fur
Hygiene an der Universitat Graz, Osterreich.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was the objective control of
the therapeutic effect of weak pulsing magnetic fields (series
of periodically repeating square pulses increasing according
to an e-function, frequencies of 10, 20, 30, and 200-300 Hz)
by means of a double-blind study on osteoarthritis of the
knee. Measured parameters were the Knee Society score, pain
sensation, blood count and cardiocirculatory values. METHODS:
36 placebo and 35 verum test persons (all with a knee gap
smaller than 3 mm) were exposed daily for 16 minutes over 6
weeks to a low frequency magnetic field (flux densities
increasing gradually from 3.4 up to 13.6 microT) encompassing
the whole body. The last data collection was made 4 weeks
after the end of treatment. RESULTS: Principally, the
statistically ensured results exclusively favour the used
magnetic field therapy; by far the greatest number of at least
significant differences was found at the end of the whole
treatment, lasting 6 weeks. In particular, it is striking that
all 4 questioned pain scales showed at least significant
improvements in favour of the verum collective; also the
walking distance was increased. As another confirmed fact,
even after 4 weeks without therapy the persistence of several
functional and analgesic effects could be documented.
CONCLUSIONS: Predominantly, on the one hand, pain relief in
osteoarthritis patients was confirmed by a double-blind trial,
on the other hand, increases in mobility could be proven.
Furthermore, we describe mainly the modes of action of low
frequency magnetic energy and 3 physical concepts that are
seen as the connecting link between electromagnetic fields
coupled into connective tissue and biochemical repair and
growth processes in bones and cartilage. Proceeding from the
results of this and preceding studies, one has to consider
seriously whether this kind of magnetic field application
should not be employed as cost-effective and side effect-free
alternative or adjuvant form of therapy in the field of
orthopaedic disorders.
Biomed Pharmacother. 2005
Aug;59(7):388-94.
Effects
of
pulsed electromagnetic fields on articular hyaline
cartilage: review of experimental and clinical studies.
Experimental Surgery Department, Research Institute
Codivilla-Putti-Rizzoli, Orthopedic Institute, via di Barbiano
1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common disorder of the musculoskeletal system and is a consequence of mechanical and biological events that destabilize tissue homeostasis in articular joints. Controlling chondrocyte death and apoptosis, function, response to anabolic and catabolic stimuli, matrix synthesis or degradation and inflammation is the most important target of potential chondroprotective treatment, aimed to retard or stabilize the progression of OA. Although many drugs or substances have been recently introduced for the treatment of OA, the majority of them do not modify the complex pathological processes that occur in these tissues. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) have a number of well-documented physiological effects on cells and tissues including the upregulation of gene expression of members of the transforming growth factor beta super family, the increase in glycosaminoglycan levels, and an anti-inflammatory action. In the present paper some recent experimental in vitro and in vivo data on the effect of PEMFs on articular cartilage were reviewed. These data strongly support the clinical use of PEMFs in OA patients.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2005
Jun;76(6):833-8. Related Articles, Links
Longlasting
antalgic
effects of daily sessions of repetitive transcranial
magnetic stimulation in central and peripheral neuropathic
pain. Khedr EM, Kotb H, Kamel NF, Ahmed MA, Sadek R,
Rothwell JC. Department of Neurology, Assiut University
Hospital, Assiut, Egypt
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A single session of repetitive
transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over motor cortex had
been reported to produce short term relief of some types of
chronic pain. The present study investigated whether five
consecutive days of rTMS would lead to longer lasting pain
relief in unilateral chronic intractable neuropathic pain.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty eight patients with therapy
resistant chronic unilateral pain syndromes (24 each with
trigeminal neuralgia (TGN) and post-stroke pain syndrome
(PSP)) participated. Fourteen from each group received 10
minutes real rTMS over the hand area of motor cortex (20 Hz,
10x10 s trains, intensity 80% of motor threshold) every day
for five consecutive days. The remaining patients received
sham stimulation. CONCLUSION:
These results confirm that five daily sessions of rTMS over
motor cortex can produce longlasting pain relief in patients
with TGN or PSP.
CONTEXT: Neuropathic pain (NP) from
peripheral neuropathy (PN) arises from ectopic firing of
unmyelinated C-fibers with accumulation of sodium and calcium
channels. Because pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) safely
induce extremely low frequency (ELF) quasirectangular currents
that can depolarize, repolarize, and hyperpolarize neurons, it
was hypothesized that directing this energy into the sole of
one foot could potentially modulate neuropathic pain.
DESIGN/SETTING/PATIENTS: 24 consecutive patients with
refractory and symptomatic PN from diabetes, chronic
inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), pernicious
anemia, mercury poisoning, paraneoplastic syndrome, tarsal
tunnel, and idiopathic sensory neuropathy were enrolled in
this nonplacebo pilot study. The most symptomatic foot
received therapy. INTERVENTION: Noninvasive pulsed signal
therapy generates a unidirectional quasirectangular waveform
with strength about 20 gauss and a frequency about 30 Hz into
the soles of the feet for 9 consecutive 1-h treatments
(excluding weekends). The most symptomatic foot of each
patient was treated. RESULTS: Mean pain scores
decreased 21% from baseline to end of treatment (P=0.19) but
with 49% reduction of pain scores from baseline to end of
follow-up (P<0.01). Of this group, self-reported PGIC was
improved 67% (n=10) and no change was 33% (n=5).
There were no adverse events or safety issues. CONCLUSIONS:
These pilot data demonstrate that directing PEMF to the feet
can provide unexpected shortterm analgesic effects in more
than 50% of individuals. The role of placebo is not known and
was not tested. The precise
mechanism is unclear yet suggests that severe and advanced
cases are more magnetically sensitive.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neurosci Lett. 2004 Jan 2;354(1):30-3.
Related Articles, Links
Analgesic and behavioral effects of a 100 microT specific
pulsed extremely low frequency magnetic field on control and
morphine treated CF-1 mice.
Shupak NM, Hensel JM, Cross-Mellor SK, Kavaliers M, Prato FS,
Thomas AW.
Bioelectromagnetics, Lawson Health Research Institute,
Department of Nuclear Medicine, St. Joseph's Health Care, 268
Grosvenor Street, London, Ont. N6A 4V2, Canada.
Diverse studies have shown that magnetic fields can affect
behavioral and physiological functions. Previously, we have
shown that sinusoidal extremely low frequency magnetic fields
and specific pulsed magnetic fields (Cnps) can produce
alterations in the analgesia-related behavior of the land
snail. Here, we have extended these studies to show an
induction of analgesia in mice equivalent to a moderate dose
of morphine (5 mg/kg), and the effect of both Cnp exposure and
morphine injection on some open-field activity. Cnp exposure
was found to prolong the response latency to a nociceptive
thermal stimulus (hot plate). Cnp+morphine offset the
increased movement activity found with morphine alone. These results suggest that pulsed magnetic
fields can induce analgesic behavior in mice without the
side effects often associated with opiates like morphine.
PMID: 14698475 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2004
Apr;75(4):612-6.
Neurogenic
pain
relief by repetitive transcranial magnetic cortical
stimulation depends on the origin and the site of pain.
Lefaucheur JP, Drouot X, Menard-Lefaucheur I, Zerah F, Bendib
B, Cesaro P, Keravel Y, Nguyen JP.
Service de Physiologie-Explorations Fonctionnelles, Hopital
Henri Mondor, 51 Avenue de Lattre de Tassigny, 94010 Creteil,
France.
Neurophysiol Clin. 2004 Apr;34(2):91-5.
Neuropathic
pain
controlled for more than a year by monthly sessions of
repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor
cortex. Lefaucheur JP, Drouot X, Menard-Lefaucheur I,
Nguyen JP.
Service de Physiologie-Explorations Fonctionnelles, CHU
Hopital Henri Mondor, 51 avenue de Lattre de Tassigny, Creteil
94010, France.
Pain. 2004 Jan;107(1-2):107-15.
Effects
of
1-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on acute
pain induced by capsaicin.
Tamura Y, Okabe S, Ohnishi T, N Saito D, Arai N, Mochio S,
Inoue K, Ugawa Y.
Department of Neurology, Jikei University School of Medicine,
3-25-8 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan.
The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of 1-Hz
repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the
primary motor cortex (M1) on acute pain induced by intradermal
capsaicin injection and to elucidate its mechanisms by
single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). We conclude that rTMS over M1
should have beneficial effects on acute pain, and its
effects must be caused by functional changes of MPFC and
caudal ACC.
Neurology. 2004 Jun 22;62(12):2176-81.
Facilitation
of
A[delta]-fiber-mediated acute pain by repetitive
transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Tamura Y, Hoshiyama M, Inui K, Nakata H, Qiu Y, Ugawa Y, Inoue
K, Kakigi R.
Department of Integrative Physiology, National Institute for
Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan. ytamura@nips.ac.jp
BACKGROUND: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
(rTMS) of the motor cortex modulates acute and chronic pain
perception. The authors previously showed that rTMS over the
primary motor cortex (M1) inhibited capsaicin-induced acute
pain ascending through C-fibers. CONCLUSIONS: Together with
the authors' previous study on C-fiber pain, this facilitatory
effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on
Adelta-fiber-mediated further strengthens the notion of a
relationship between repetitive transcranial magnetic
stimulation over M1 and pain perception.
Neurosci Behav Physiol. 2003 Oct;33(8):745-52.
The
use of pulsed electromagnetic fields with complex modulation
in the treatment of patients with diabetic polyneuropathy.
Musaev AV, Guseinova SG, Imamverdieva SS.
Science Research Institute of Medical Rehabilitation, Baku,
Azerbaidzhan.
Clinical and electroneuromyographic studies were performed in
121 patients with diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) before and
after courses of treatment with pulsed electromagnetic fields
with complex modulation (PEMF-CM) at different frequencies
(100 and 10 Hz).PEMF-CM at 10 Hz was
found to have therapeutic efficacy, especially in the
initial stages of DPN and in patients with diabetes mellitus
for up to 10 years.
PMID: 14635988 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Altern Ther Health Med. 2003 Jul-Aug;9(4):38-48.
Effects of a pulsed electromagnetic therapy on multiple
sclerosis fatigue and quality of life: a double-blind, placebo
controlled trial.
Lappin MS, Lawrie FW, Richards TL, Kramer ED.
Energy Medicine Developments, (North America), Inc., Burke,
Va., USA.
CONTEXT: There is a growing literature on the biological and
clinical effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields. Some
studies suggest that electromagnetic therapies may be useful
in the treatment of chronic illnesses. This study is a
follow-up to a placebo controlled pilot study in which
multiple sclerosis (MS) patients exposed to weak, extremely
low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields showed significant
improvements on a composite symptom measure. CONCLUSIONS:
Evidence from this randomized, double-bind, placebo controlled
trial is consistent with results from smaller studies
suggesting that exposure to pulsing, weak electromagnetic
fields can alleviate symptoms of MS. The clinical effects were
small, however, and need to be replicated. Additional research
is also needed to examine the possibility that ambulatory
patients and patients taking interferons for their MS may be
most responsive to this kind of treatment.
Publication Types:
* Clinical Trial
* Multicenter Study
* Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 12868251 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5: Biomed Sci Instrum. 2003;39:466-70.
Related Articles, Links
Autoradiographic evaluation of electromagnetic field effects
on serotonin (5HT1A) receptors in rat brain.
Johnson MT, McCullough J, Nindl G, Chamberlain JK.
Terre Haute Center for Medical Education, Indiana University
School of Medicine, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA.
Serotonin (5HT1A) is a chemical mediator of inflammation and
the largest single neurotransmitter system of the brain. Its
secretion and physiological actions mediate stress and pain,
affecting both immune and nervous system functions through the
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Serotonin receptor
dysfunction is well-characterized in mental disturbances like
depression and anxiety. Transcranial magnetic stimulation has
been used therapeutically to treat refractory disorders like
non-responsive depression and may act in part through its
effect on 5HT1A receptors. Previously we have shown that in
vitro, 5HT1A receptor binding to a radioactive agonist can be
modulated by specific intensity and frequency electromagnetic
fields (EMFs). In the present report we have used quantitative
receptor autoradiography to evaluate 5HT1A receptor density in
rat brain and the impact of pulsed EMF exposure on receptor
binding in key brain regions. Rats used in this study had
whole body exposures to either a geofield control or to pulsed
EMFs to evaluate the treatment for chemically-induced
tendinitis. Since the brains were exposed coincidentally as a
consequence of the main experiment, we investigated the
potential for EMF-induced changes in areas such as the
hippocampus. This pilot study should provide a detailed
understanding of magnetic field effects on stress-responsive
brain regions and will lead to a more coordinated approach to
the use of such modalities for therapeutic intervention in
humans.
PMID: 12724937 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7: Percept Mot Skills. 2002 Oct;95(2):592-8.
Related Articles, Links
Increased analgesia to thermal stimuli in rats after brief
exposures to complex pulsed 1 microTesla magnetic fields.
Ryczko MC, Persinger MA.
Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Laurentian University,
Sudbury, ON, Canada.
Nociceptive thresholds to a 55 degrees C hot surface were
measured for female Wistar rats before treatments and 30 min.
and 60 min. after the treatments. After injection with either
naloxone or saline following baseline measurements, the rats
were exposed for 30 min. to either sham fields or to weak
(about 1 microTesla) burst-firing magnetic fields composed of
230 points (4 msec. per point) presented once every 3 sec. The
rats that had received the burst-firing magnetic fields
exhibited elevated nociceptive thresholds that explained about
50% of the variance. A second pattern, designed after the
behaviour of individual thalamic neurons during nociceptive
input and called the "activity rhythm magnetic field" produced
only a transient analgesic effect. These
results replicated previous studies and suggest that weak,
extremely low frequency, pulsed magnetic fields with
biorelevant temporal structures may have utility as adjuncts
for treatment of pain.
PMID: 12434855 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8: Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2002 Aug 30;114(15-16):678-84.
Related Articles, Links
Comment in:
* Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2002 Nov
30;114(21-22):953; author reply 953.
Pulsed magnetic field therapy for osteoarthritis of the
knee--a double-blind sham-controlled trial.
Nicolakis P, Kollmitzer J, Crevenna R, Bittner C, Erdogmus CB,
Nicolakis J.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, AKH Wien,
University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Peter.nicolakis@akh-wien.ac.at
BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Pulsed magnetic field therapy is
frequently used to treat the symptoms of osteoarthritis,
although its efficacy has not been proven. We conducted a
randomized, double-blind comparison of pulsed magnetic field
and sham therapy in patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis
of the knee. Patients were assigned to receive 84 sessions,
each with a duration of 30 minutes, of either pulsed magnetic
field or sham treatment. Patients administered the treatment
on their own at home, twice a day for six weeks. RESULTS:
According to a sample size estimation, 36 consecutive patients
were enrolled. 34 patients completed the study, two of whom
had to be excluded from the statistical analysis, as they had
not applied the PMF sufficiently. Thus, 15 verum and 17
sham-treated patients were enrolled in the statistical
analysis. After six weeks of treatment the WOMAC
Osteoarthritis Index was reduced in the pulsed magnetic
field-group from 84.1 (+/- 45.1) to 49.7 (+/- 31.6), and from
73.7 (+/- 43.3) to 66.9 (+/- 52.9) in the sham-treated group
(p = 0.03). The following secondary parameters improved in the
pulsed magnetic field group more than they did in the sham
group: gait speed at fast walking [+6.0 meters per minute (1.6
to 10.4) vs. -3.2 (-8.5 to 2.2)], stride length at fast
walking [+6.9 cm (0.2 to 13.7) vs. -2.9 (-8.8 to 2.9)], and
acceleration time in the isokinetic dynamometry strength tests
[-7.0% (-15.2 to 1.3) vs. 10.1% (-0.3 to 20.6)]. CONCLUSION: In patients with symptomatic
osteoarthritis of the knee, PMF treatment can reduce
impairment in activities of daily life and improve knee
function.
Publication Types:
* Clinical Trial
* Evaluation Studies
* Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 12602111 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
9: Dis Colon Rectum. 2002 Feb;45(2):280-2.
Related Articles, Links
Sacral magnetic stimulation for pain relief from pudendal
neuralgia and sciatica.
Sato T, Nagai H.
Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical School,
Minamikawachi-machi, Kawachi-gun, Tochigi-ken, Japan.
INTRODUCTION: Magnetic stimulation of the sacral nerve roots
is used for neurologic examination. However, no one has
reported therapeutic efficacy of pain relief from pudendal
neuralgia with sacral magnetic stimulation. METHODS: Five
patients with pudendal neuralgia or sciatica received 30 to 50
pulsed magnetic stimuli of the sacral nerve roots. The median
age of the patients was 59 (range, 28-69) years; there were 3
females. RESULTS: Sacral magnetic stimulation immediately
eliminated the pain. The pain relief lasted between 30 minutes
and 56 days (median, 24 hours). Adverse effects were not
observed. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study
indicates that magnetic stimulation of the sacral nerve
roots may be a promising therapeutic modality for pain
relief from pudendal neuralgia and sciatica. Further
studies should be performed to determine the appropriate
intensity and frequency, as well as the utility of a second
course, of magnetic stimulation treatment.
PMID: 11852346 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10: Biomed Sci Instrum. 2002;38:157-62.
Related Articles, Links
Quantitative characterization of rat tendinitis to evaluate
the efficacy of therapeutic interventions.
Wetzel BJ, Nindl G, Swez JA, Johnson MT.
Terre Haute Center for Medical Education, Indiana University
School of Medicine, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
47809, USA.
Tendinitis is a painful soft tissue pathology that accounts
for almost half of all occupational injuries in the United
States. It is often caused by repeated movements and may
result in loss of work and income. Current treatments for
tendinitis are aimed at reducing inflammation, the major cause
of the pain. Although anti-inflammatory drugs and various
alternative therapies are capable of improving tendinitis,
there are no quantitative scientific data available regarding
their impact on inflammation. The objective of this study is
to determine the time course for healing of rat tendinitis
without intervention to be able to assess the efficacy of
tendinitis treatments. We are interested in evaluating the
therapeutic use of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs), a
therapeutic modality that has been found to be beneficial for
healing soft tissue injuries. Tendinitis was induced in Harlan
Sprague Dawley rats by collagenase injections into the
Achilles tendon, and tendons were collected for four weeks
post-injury. To determine the amount of edema, we used caliper
measurements of the rat ankles and quantified the tendon water
content. To determine the extent of inflammation, we estimated
the number of inflammatory cells on histological sections
applying stereological methods. The data reveal that edema is
maximal 24 hours after injury accompanied by a massive
infiltration of inflammatory cells. Inflammatory cells are
then gradually replaced by fibroblasts, which are responsible
for correcting damage to the extracellular matrix. This
natural time course of tendon healing will be used to evaluate
the use of PEMFs as a possible therapeutic modality.
PMID: 12085595 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11: Sheng Wu Yi Xue Gong Cheng Xue Za Zhi. 2001
Dec;18(4):552-3, 572. Related Articles,
Links
[Analgesic effect induced by stimulation of rats brain with
strong pulsed magnetic field: a preliminary study]
[Article in Chinese]
Wang Y, Niu J, Shen Q, Jiang D.
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong
University, Xi'an 710049.
The Objective of this study was to determine whether
stimulation on the brain of SD rats with strong pulsed
magnetic field could produce analgesic effect. A stimulator of
CADWELL (MES-10) was adopted in the study. The pain index used
was the Tail Flick Latency (TFL) of rats. The stimulation
parameters were: (1) the intensity percent (20%) and
stimulation duration (7 min); (2) the intensity percent (30%)
and stimulation duration (3 min). The results showed that the
mean Acquired TFL change was 23% (P < 0.01) for the 20%
intensity group, and 26% (P < 0.01) for the 30% intensity
group. CONCLUSION: These data indicate
that the new method for analgesia is effective, and compared
with other approaches to stimulation analgesia, this one is
non-invasive, easy to operate, and less causative of
discomfort.
PMID: 11791305 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neurophysiol Clin. 2001 Aug;31(4):247-52.
Interventional neurophysiology for pain control: duration of pain relief following repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex.
Lefaucheur JP, Drouot X, Nguyen JP.
Service de physiologie-explorations fonctionnelles, hopital Henri-Mondor, Inserm U421, faculte de medecine, 94010 Creteil, France.
The chronic electrical stimulation of a motor cortical area corresponding to a painful region of the body, by means of surgically-implanted epidural electrodes is a validated therapeutical strategy to control medication-resistant neurogenic pain. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) permits to stimulate non-invasively and precisely the motor cortex. This study shows that a transient pain relief can be induced in patients suffering from chronic neurogenic pain during about the week that follows a 20-min session of 10 Hz-rTMS applied over the motor cortex.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
12: Neurosci Lett. 2001 Aug 17;309(1):17-20.
Related Articles, Links
A comparison of rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia patients
and healthy controls exposed to a pulsed (200 microT) magnetic
field: effects on normal standing balance.
Thomas AW, White KP, Drost DJ, Cook CM, Prato FS.
The Lawson Health Research Institute, Department of Nuclear
Medicine & MR, St. Joseph's Health Care, 268 Grosvenor
Street, London, N6A 4V2, Ontario, Canada.
athomas@lri.sjhc.london.on.ca
Specific weak time varying pulsed magnetic fields (MF) have
been shown to alter animal and human behaviors, including pain
perception and postural sway. Here we demonstrate an objective
assessment of exposure to pulsed MF's on Rheumatoid Arthritis
(RA) and Fibromyalgia (FM) patients and healthy controls using
standing balance. 15 RA and 15 FM patients were recruited from
a university hospital outpatient Rheumatology Clinic and 15
healthy controls from university students and personnel. Each
subject stood on the center of a 3-D forceplate to record
postural sway within three square orthogonal coil pairs (2 m,
1.75 m, 1.5 m) which generated a spatially uniform MF centered
at head level. Four 2-min exposure conditions (eyes open/eyes
closed, sham/MF) were applied in a random order. With eyes
open and during sham exposure, FM patients and controls
appeared to have similar standing balance, with RA patients
worse. With eyes closed, postural sway worsened for all three
groups, but more for RA and FM patients than controls. The
Romberg Quotient (eyes closed/eyes open) was highest among FM
patients. Mixed design analysis of variance on the center of
pressure (COP) movements showed a significant interaction of
eyes open/closed and sham/MF conditions [F=8.78(1,42),
P<0.006]. Romberg Quotients of COP
movements improved significantly with MF exposure
[F=9.5(1,42), P<0.005] and COP path length showed an
interaction approaching significance with clinical diagnosis
[F=3.2(1,28), P<0.09]. Therefore RA and FM patients, and
healthy controls, have significantly different postural sway
in response to a specific pulsed MF.
PMID: 11489536 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
15: Curr Med Res Opin. 2001;17(3):190-6.
Related Articles, Links
Magnetic pulse treatment for knee osteoarthritis: a
randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Pipitone N, Scott DL.
Rheumatology Department, King's College Hospital (Dulwich),
London, UK.
We assessed the efficacy and tolerability of low-frequency
pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) therapy in patients with
clinically symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) in a
randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of six
weeks' duration. Patients with radiographic evidence and
symptoms of OA (incompletely relieved by conventional
treatments), according to the criteria of the American College
of Rheumatology, were recruited from a single tertiary
referral centre. 75 patients fulfilling the above criteria
were randomised to receive active PEMF treatment by unipolar
magnetic devices The primary outcome measure was reduction in
overall pain assessed on a four-point Likert scale ranging
from nil to severe. Paired analysis of the follow-up
observations on each patient showed significant improvements
in the actively treated group in the WOMAC global score (p =
0.018), WOMAC pain score (p = 0.065), WOMAC disability score
(p = 0.019) and EuroQol score (p = 0.001) at study end
compared to baseline. In contrast, there were no improvements
in any variable in the placebo-treated group. There were no
clinically relevant adverse effects attributable to active
treatment. These results suggest that unipolar magnetic
devices are beneficial in reducing pain and disability in
patients with knee OA resistant to conventional treatment in
the absence of significant side-effects. Further studies using
different types of magnetic devices, treatment protocols and
patient populations are warranted to confirm the general
efficacy of PEMF therapy in OA and other conditions.
Publication Types:
* Clinical Trial
* Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 11900312 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
17: Adv Ther. 2000 Mar-Apr;17(2):57-67.
Related Articles, Links
Spine fusion for discogenic low back pain: outcomes in
patients treated with or without pulsed electromagnetic field
stimulation.
Marks RA.
Richardson Orthopaedic Surgery, Texas 75080, USA.
Sixty-one randomly selected patients who underwent lumbar
fusion surgeries for discogenic low back pain between 1987 and
1994 were retrospectively studied. All patients had failed to
respond to preoperative conservative treatments. Forty-two
patients received adjunctive therapy with pulsed
electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation, and 19 patients
received no electrical stimulation of any kind. Average
follow-up time was 15.6 months postoperatively. Fusion
succeeded in 97.6% of the PEMF group and in 52.6% of the
unstimulated group (P < .001). The observed agreement
between clinical and radiographic outcome was 75%. The use of PEMF stimulation enhances bony
bridging in lumbar spinal fusions. Successful fusion
underlies a good clinical outcome in patients with
discogenic low back pain.
PMID: 11010056 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
18: Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2000 Feb;26(1):51-62, viii.
Related Articles, Links
Electromagnetic fields and magnets. Investigational treatment
for musculoskeletal disorders.
Trock DH.
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut,
USA.
Certain pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) affect the growth
of bone and cartilage in vitro, with potential application as
an arthritis treatment. PEMF
stimulation is already a proven remedy for delayed
fractures, with potential clinical application for
osteoarthritis, osteonecrosis of bone, osteoporosis, and
wound healing. Static magnets may provide temporary
pain relief under certain circumstances. In both cases, the
available data is limited. The mechanisms underlying the use
of PEMF and magnets are discussed.
Publication Types:
* Review
* Review, Tutorial
PMID: 10680193 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
19: Int J Neurosci. 2000;100(1-4):91-8.
Related Articles, Links
Pretraining exposure to physiologically patterned
electromagnetic stimulation attenuates fear-conditioned
analgesia.
Stewart LS, Persinger MA.
Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Laurentian University,
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
The effect of weak electromagnetic stimulation on the
emergence of conditioned analgesia was examined in the adult
rat. Subjects were conditioned to associate a continuous 20
kHz ultrasonic tone (CS) with 0.2 mA footshock (UCS-) over
five successive days. For 30 min either before or after
conditioning sessions, rats were exposed to sham or pulsed
(primed burst potentiation) magnetic fields (500 nT). At the
end of the conditioning phase, all animals were evaluated for
anticipatory analgesia following CS presentation using a
hotplate analgesiometer. Data analysis
suggested a statistically significant attenuation of
fear-conditioned analgesia in rats exposed to
electromagnetic stimulation prior to conditioning,
whereas post-conditioning exposure potentiated the reduction
in pain sensitivity compared to baseline measures. The present
results suggest that the emergence of fear-conditioned
responses is sensitive to whole body exposure to a magnetic
field pattern that has been shown to induce long-term
potentiation in hippocampal slices.
PMID: 10512550 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
23: Clin Rheumatol. 1996 Jul;15(4):325-8.
Related Articles, Links
Therapy with pulsed electromagnetic fields in aseptic
loosening of total hip protheses: a prospective study.
Konrad K, Sevcic K, Foldes K, Piroska E, Molnar E.
Orszagos Reumatologiai es Fizioterapias Intezet, Budapes,
Hungary.
Aseptic loosening is the most common problem of hip
arthroplasties, limiting its long term success. We report a
study of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) treatment in 24
patients with this complication. At the end of treatment, six
months and one year later, pain and hip movements improved
significantly with the exception of flexion and extension.
There was significant improvement in both isotope scans and
ultrasonography, but not in plain X-ray.
The decreased pain and improved function suggest that PEMF
is effective in improving symptoms of patients with loose
hip replacement. No improvement, however, can be
expected in patients with severe pain due to gross loosening.
PMID: 8853163 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
25: Int J Neurosci. 1995 Apr;81(3-4):215-24.
Related Articles, Links
Resolution of Lhermitte's sign in multiple sclerosis by
treatment with weak electromagnetic fields.
Sandyk R, Dann LC.
NeuroCommunication Research Laboratories, Danbury, CT 06811,
USA.
Lhermitte's sign, the occurrence of an electrical sensation
passing down the back to the legs on flexion of the neck is a
common and characteristic feature of multiple sclerosis (MS)
which is related to spinal cord lesions affecting the
posterior columns and cervical nerve roots. The Lhermitte's
sign, which has been reported to occur at some time in up to
25% of MS patients, is seldom painful but is often a cause of
distress to the patient and usually a marker of increased
disease activity. Treatment with extracranial picotesla range
pulsed electromagnetic fields (EMFs) has been found
efficacious in the management of various MS symptoms including
pain syndromes. The present communication concerns three MS
patients in whom two brief applications of EMFs resulted in
resolution of the Lhermitte's sign which emerged during a
period of exacerbation of symptoms in one patient and during a
prolonged phase of symptom deterioration in the other two
patients. As the cause of the Lhermitte's sign is thought to
result from the spread of ectopic excitation in demyelinated
plaques in the cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal
cord, it is hypothesized that the effects of EMFs are related
to the reduction of axonal excitability via a mechanism
involving changes in ionic membrane permeability. A systemic effect on pain control systems is
also postulated to occur secondary to the effects of EMFs on
neurotransmitter activity and pineal melatonin functions.
This report underscores the efficacy of picotesla EMFs in the
management of paroxysmal pain symptoms in MS.
Publication Types:
* Case Reports
* Review
* Review, Tutorial
PMID: 7628912 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
26: J Rheumatol. 1994 Oct;21(10):1903-11.
Related Articles, Links
The effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields in the treatment
of osteoarthritis of the knee and cervical spine. Report of
randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trials.
Trock DH, Bollet AJ, Markoll R.
Department of Medicine, Danbury Hospital, CT.
OBJECTIVE. We conducted a randomized, double blind clinical
trial to determine the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic
fields (PEMF) in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the
knee and cervical spine. METHODS. A controlled trial of 18
half-hour active or placebo treatments was conducted in 86
patients with OA of the knee and 81 patients with OA of the
cervical spine, in which pain was evaluated using a 10 cm
visual analog scale, activities of daily living using a series
of questions (answered by the patient as never, sometimes,
most of the time, or always), pain on passive motion (recorded
as none, slight, moderate, or severe), and joint tenderness
(recorded using a modified Ritchie scale). Global evaluations
of improvement were made by the patient and examining
physician. Evaluations were made at baseline, midway, end of
treatment, and one month after completion of treatment.
RESULTS. Matched pair t tests showed
extremely significant changes from baseline for the treated
patients in both knee and cervical spine studies at the end
of treatment and the one month followup observations,
whereas the changes in the placebo patients showed lesser
degrees of significance at the end of treatment, and had
lost significance for most variables at the one month
followup. The means of the treated patients with OA
of the cervical spine showed greater improvement from baseline
than the placebo group for most variables at the end of
treatment and one month followup observations; these
differences reached statistical significance at one or more
observation points for pain, pain on motion, and tenderness. CONCLUSION. PEMF has therapeutic benefit in
painful OA of the knee or cervical spine.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
28: Eur J Surg Suppl. 1994;(574):83-6.
Related Articles, Links
Electrochemical therapy of pelvic pain: effects of pulsed
electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on tissue trauma.
Jorgensen WA, Frome BM, Wallach C.
International Pain Research Institute, Los Angeles,
California.
Unusually effective and long-lasting relief of pelvic pain of
gynaecological origin has been obtained consistently by short
exposures of affected areas to the application of a magnetic
induction device producing short, sharp, magnetic-field pulses
of a minimal amplitude to initiate the electrochemical
phenomenon of electroporation within a 25 cm2 focal area.
Treatments are short, fasting-acting, economical and in many
instances have obviated surgery. This report describes typical
cases such as dysmenorrhoea, endometriosis, ruptured ovarian
cyst, acute lower urinary tract infection, post-operative
haematoma, and persistent dyspareunia in which pulsed magnetic
field treatment has not, in most cases, been supplemented by
analgesic medication. Of 17 female
patients presenting with a total of 20 episodes of pelvic
pain, of which 11 episodes were acute, seven chronic and two
acute as well as chronic, 16 patients representing 18
episodes (90%) experienced marked, even dramatic relief,
while two patients representing two episodes reported less
than complete pain relief.
Publication Types:
* Clinical Trial
PMID: 7531030 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
29: Int J Rehabil Res. 1993 Dec;16(4):323-7.
Related Articles, Links
Clinical assessment of the RHUMART system based on the use of
Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields with low frequency.
Begue-Simon AM, Drolet RA.
Concordia University, Exercise Science Department, Outremont,
Quebec, Canada.
PMID: 8175238 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
31: J Rheumatol. 1993 Mar;20(3):456-60.
Related Articles, Links
Comment in:
* J Rheumatol. 1993 Dec;20(12):2166-7.
A double-blind trial of the clinical effects of pulsed
electromagnetic fields in osteoarthritis.
Trock DH, Bollet AJ, Dyer RH Jr, Fielding LP, Miner WK,
Markoll R.
Department of Medicine (Rheumatology), Danbury Hospital, CT
06810.
OBJECTIVE. Further evaluation of pulsed electromagnetic fields
(PEMF), which have been observed to produce numerous
biological effects, and have been used to treat delayed union
fractures for over a decade. METHODS. In a pilot, double-blind
randomized trial, 27 patients with osteoarthritis (OA),
primarily of the knee, were treated with PEMF. Treatment
consisted of 18 half-hour periods of exposure over about 1
month in a specially designed noncontact, air-coil device.
Observations were made on 6 clinical variables at baseline,
midpoint of therapy, end of treatment and one month later; 25
patients completed treatment. RESULTS. An average improvement
of 23-61% occurred in the clinical variables observed with
active treatment, while 2 to 18% improvement was observed in
these variables in placebo treated control patients. No
toxicity was observed. CONCLUSION. The
decreased pain and improved functional performance of
treated patients suggests that this configuration of PEMF
has potential as an effective method of improving symptoms
in patients with OA. This method warrants further
clinical investigation.
Publication Types:
* Clinical Trial
* Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 8478852 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
32: Mil Med. 1993 Feb;158(2):101-4. Related
Articles, Links
Pulsed, non-thermal, high-frequency electromagnetic energy
(DIAPULSE) in the treatment of grade I and grade II ankle
sprains.
Pennington GM, Danley DL, Sumko MH, Bucknell A, Nelson JH.
Orthopedic Surgery Service, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort
Sam Houston, TX 78234.
Acutely sprained ankles represent a frequent and common injury
among active duty troops in training, and are a significant
source of morbidity with respect to days lost to training.
Swelling in the form of periarticular edema limits motion,
causes pain, prevents wearing of normal foot gear, and slows
the healing process. Reduction of edema was attempted in
acutely sprained ankles by the use of pulsed electromagnetic
energy (Diapulse). In a randomized, prospective, double blind
study of 50 grade I and II (no gross instability) sprained
ankles, a statistically significant (p < 0.01) decrease in
edema was noted following one treatment with Diapulse. The
application of this modality in acutely sprained ankles could
result in significant decreases in time lost to military
training.
Publication Types:
* Clinical Trial
* Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 8441490 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
33: Bioelectromagnetics. 1993;14(6):553-6.
Related Articles, Links
Pain control using high-intensity pulsed magnetic stimulation.
Ellis WV.
Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San
Francisco.
High-intensity pulsed magnetic stimulation (HIPMS)
non-invasively depolarizes neurones, which can be deeply
embedded in local tissues. Trans- or subcutaneous electrical
stimulation can produce analgesia. To test the hypothesis that
similar analgesia could be obtained using HIPMS, analgesia was
determined in ten blinded subjects following HIPMS. Analgesia was consistently produced in all
subjects with long-lasting pain relief occurring in half of
the cases.
PMID: 8297399 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
34: Panminerva Med. 1992 Oct-Dec;34(4):187-96.
Related Articles, Links
Therapeutic effects of pulsed magnetic fields on joint
diseases.
Riva Sanseverino E, Vannini A, Castellacci P.
Universita di Bologna, Italy.
The present paper describes the effects of pulsed magnetic
fields (MF) on diseases of different joints, in chronic as
well as acute conditions where the presence of a phlogistic
process is the rule. Optimal parameters for MF applications
were sought at the beginning of the study and then applied for
11 years; a technical modification in the MF generator was
introduced 5 years ago to satisfy the requirement of a
hypothesis advanced to understand the mechanism of MF
treatment. 3,014 patients were treated by means of MF at
extremely low frequencies and intensities. Patient follow-up
was pursued as constantly as possible. Pain removal, recovery
of joint mobility and maintenance of the improved conditions
represented the parameters for judging the results as good or
poor. The chi-square test was applied in order to evaluate the
probability that the results are not casual. A general average
value of 78.8% of good results and 21.2% of poor results was
obtained. Higher (82%) percentages of good results were
observed when single joint diseases were considered with
respect to multiple joint diseases (polyarthrosis); in the
latter, the percentage of good results was definitely lower
(66%). The high percentage of good
results obtained and the absolute absence of both negative
results and undesired side-effects, together with the
therapeutic advantage due to a technical modification in the
MF generator, led to the conclusion that magnetic field
treatment is an excellent physical therapy in cases of joint
diseases. A hypothesis is advanced that external
magnetic fields influence transmembrane ionic activity.
PMID: 1293548 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
35: Br J Dermatol. 1992 Aug;127(2):147-54.
Related Articles, Links
A portable pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) device to
enhance healing of recalcitrant venous ulcers: a double-blind,
placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Stiller MJ, Pak GH, Shupack JL, Thaler S, Kenny C, Jondreau L.
Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York
University Medical Center, New York.
A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
multicentre study assessed the clinical efficacy and safety of
pulsed electromagnetic limb ulcer therapy (PELUT) in the
healing of recalcitrant, predominantly venous leg ulcers. The
portable device was used at home for 3 h daily during this
8-week clinical trial as an adjunct to a wound dressing. Wound
surface area, ulcer depth and pain intensity were assessed at
weeks 0, 4 and 8. At week 8 the active group had a 47.7%
decrease in wound surface area vs. a 42.3% increase for
placebo (P < 0.0002). Investigators' global evaluations
indicated that 50% of the ulcers in the active group healed or
markedly improved vs. 0% in the placebo group, and 0% of the
active group worsened vs. 54% of the placebo group (P <
0.001). Significant decreases in wound
depth (P < 0.04) and pain intensity (P < 0.04)
favouring the active group were seen. Patients whose
ulcers improved significantly after 8 weeks were permitted to
continue double-blind therapy for an additional 4 weeks.
Eleven active and one placebo patient continued therapy until
week 12, with the active treatment group continuing to show
improvement. There were no reports of adverse events
attributable to this device. We conclude that the PELUT device
is a safe and effective adjunct to non-surgical therapy for
recalcitrant venous leg ulcers.
Publication Types:
* Clinical Trial
* Multicenter Study
* Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 1390143 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
36: Spine. 1992 Jun;17(6 Suppl):S83-5.
Related Articles, Links
Effect of smoking and pulsed electromagnetic fields on
intradiscal pH in rabbits.
Hambly MF, Mooney V.
Northern California Spine Center, Sacramento.
The adverse effect of cigarette smoking
on human spines has been noted indirectly. There is
correlation of increased back pain among individuals who
smoke heavily. The hypothesis of this study was that
an environment of cigarette smoking is an adverse event and
will create a reduced pH in the rabbit intervertebral disc.
Electromagnetic fields, however, can defend against this
adverse event and reduce the tendency toward acidic pH.
Rabbits were exposed to cigarette smoke for 2, 4, or 6 weeks
and their intradiscal pH measured. Cigarette-smoke-exposed
discs demonstrated a consistently lower pH than did the discs
of the machine control rabbits. The second group of rabbits
were exposed to cigarette smoke and pulsed electromagnetic
fields. The cigarette-smoke-exposed
rabbits that were exposed to the pulsed electromagnetic
fields for 4 hr/day demonstrated no change in their
intradiscal pH, in contrast to those who were exposed to
smoke alone. In conclusion, cigarette smoke exposure in
rabbits consistently produces a lower intradiscal pH and
pulsed electromagnetic fields can defend against this
adverse effect.
PMID: 1385903 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
37: Scand J Rehabil Med. 1992;24(1):51-9.
Related Articles, Links
Low energy high frequency pulsed electromagnetic therapy for
acute whiplash injuries. A double blind randomized controlled
study.
Foley-Nolan D, Moore K, Codd M, Barry C, O'Connor P, Coughlan
RJ.
Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
The standard treatment of acute whiplash injuries (soft collar
and analgesia) is frequently unsuccessful. Pulsed
electromagnetic therapy PEMT (as pulsed 27 MHz) has been shown
to have pro-healing and anti-inflammatory effects. This study
examines the effect of PEMT on the acute whiplash syndrome.
One half of the 40 patients entering the study received active
PEMT collars: the other half facsimile (placebo). All patients
were given instructions to wear the collar for eight hours a
day at home and advised to mobilise their necks. At 2 and 4
weeks the actively treated group had significantly improved (p
less than 0.05) in terms of pain (visual analogue scale). By chance movement scores for the PEMT group
were significantly worse at entry to the study than the
control group (p less than 0.05). At 12 weeks they had
become significantly better (p less than 0.05). PEMT as
described is safe for domiciliary use and this study
suggests that PEMT has a beneficial effect in the management
of the acute whiplash injury.
Publication Types:
* Clinical Trial
* Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 1604262 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38: Ir Med J. 1991 Jun;84(2):54-5. Related
Articles, Links
Treatment of chronic varicose ulcers with pulsed
electromagnetic fields: a controlled pilot study.
Todd DJ, Heylings DJ, Allen GE, McMillin WP.
Department of Dermatology, Belfast City Hospital.
To evaluate the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic fields
(PEMF) in healing of chronic varicose ulcers, 19 patients with
this condition were included in a double-blind controlled
clinical trial. All patients received standard ulcer therapy
throughout the duration of the study and were randomly divided
into two groups to receive either active or inactive PEMF
therapy. Active therapy was provided by the use of a pait of
helmholtz coils on a twice weekly basis over a five week
period and inactive therapy was provided on an identical
regimen with identical coils wound so that no magnetic field
was produced when an electric current was passed through them.
The clinician and patients were unable to distinguish the
active or inactive coils. No statistically relevant difference
was noted between the two groups in the healing rates of the
ulcer, change in the lower leg girth, pain or infection rates.
However there was a trend in favour of a
decrease in ulcer size and lower leg girth in the group
treated with active PEMF. As PEMF is a novel
treatment for chronic varicose ulcers, more work needs to be
done to establish treatment parameters and its usefulness in
the treatment of this condition.
Publication Types:
* Clinical Trial
* Controlled Clinical Trial
* Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 1894496 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
39: Orthopedics. 1990 Apr;13(4):445-51.
Related Articles, Links
Pulsed high frequency (27MHz) electromagnetic therapy for
persistent neck pain. A double blind, placebo-controlled study
of 20 patients.
Foley-Nolan D, Barry C, Coughlan RJ, O'Connor P, Roden D.
Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
In the majority of patients with neck pain, symptoms will
resolve spontaneously or quite quickly in response to therapy.
However, some patients' symptoms persist for a long period,
irrespective of therapy. In this study, 20 patients with
persistent (greater than 8 weeks) neck pain were enrolled in a
double blind, placebo-controlled trial of low energy, pulsed
electromagnetic therapy (PEMT)--a treatment previously shown
to be effective in soft tissue injuries. For the first 3-week
period, group A (10 patients) received active PEMT units while
group B (10 patients) received facsimile placebo units. After
3 weeks, both pain (visual analogue scale (P less than .023)
and range of movement (P less than .002) had improved in the
group on active treatment compared to the controls. After the second 3 weeks, during which both
groups used active units, there were significant
improvements in observed scores for pain and range of
movement in both groups. PEMT, in the form described, can be
used at home easily in the treatment of patients with neck
pain. It is frequently successful and without side effects.
Publication Types:
* Clinical Trial
* Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 2185460 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
40: Lancet. 1989 Aug 5;2(8658):331. Related
Articles, Links
Comment on:
* Lancet. 1989 Jul 1;2(8653):22-3.
Pulsed electromagnetic energy and childbirth.
Ross MD.
Publication Types:
* Comment
* Letter
PMID: 2569131 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
41: Minerva Anestesiol. 1989 Jul-Aug;55(7-8):295-9.
Related Articles, Links
[Pulsed magnetic fields. Observations in 353 patients
suffering from chronic pain]
[Article in Italian]
Di Massa A, Misuriello I, Olivieri MC, Rigato M.
Three hundred-fifty-three patients with chronic pain have been
treated with pulsed electromagnetic fields. In this work the
Authors show the result obtained in the unsteady follow-up
(2-60 months). The eventual progressive reduction of benefits
is valued by Spearman's test. We noted
the better results in the group of patients with
post-herpetic pain (deafferentation) and in patients
simultaneously suffering from neck and low back pain.
PMID: 2622541 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
44: Bioelectromagnetics. 1987;8(2):159-64.
Related Articles, Links
Pulsed subcutaneous electrical stimulation in spinal cord
injury: preliminary results.
Ellis W.
The treatment of long-term, stable para- and quadriplegics
with pulsed electrical stimulation for pain control resulted
in, anecdotally, a significant number of these individuals
showing increased motor function as well as sensory awareness.
This small pilot study was conducted in order to assess the
hypothesis that pulsed electrical fields can effect diseased
neurological function. Thirteen para- and quadriplegic
subjects with 18 months of stable neurological signs and
symptoms were exposed daily to pulsed electrical stimulation
for a 6-month period and assessed for any improvement in motor
function or sensory perception. The hypothesis is that pulsed
electromagnetic fields can normalize viable but dysfunctional
neuronal structures. Results were encouraging.
PMID: 3619950 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
46: Midwives Chron. 1985 Nov;98(1174):297-8.
Related Articles, Links
Treatment of the perineum by pulsed electro magnetic therapy.
Frank R.
PMID: 3854447 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
47: Lancet. 1984 Mar 31;1(8379):695-8.
Related Articles, Links
Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy of persistent rotator
cuff tendinitis. A double-blind controlled assessment.
Binder A, Parr G, Hazleman B, Fitton-Jackson S.
The value of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) for the
treatment of persistent rotator cuff tendinitis was tested in
a double-blind controlled study in 29 patients whose symptoms
were refractory to steroid injection and other conventional
conservative measures. The treated group (15 patients) had a
significant benefit compared with the control group (14
patients) during the first 4 weeks of the study, when the
control group received a placebo. In the second 4 weeks, when
all patients were on active coils, no significant differences
were noted between the groups. This lack of difference
persisted over the third phase, when neither group received
any treatment for 8 weeks. At the end of the study 19 (65%) of
the 29 patients were symptomless and 5 others much improved. PEMF therapy may thus be useful in the
treatment of severe and persistent rotator cuff and possibly
other chronic tendon lesions.
Publication Types:
* Clinical Trial
* Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 6143039 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
48: Hip. 1983;:306-30. Related Articles,
Links
Osteonecrosis of the femoral head treated by pulsed
electromagnetic fields (PEMFs): a preliminary report.
Eftekhar NS, Schink-Ascani MM, Mitchell SN, Bassett CA.
This has been a preliminary report with a short-term follow-up
of a small number of observations (28 hips of 24 patients).
The follow-ups ranged from 6 to 36 months, with an average of
17.8 months. Only eleven hips (in eleven patients) were
followed an average of 8 months after cessation of the
treatment. It should be emphasized that this was a "pilot"
study, in which no control series was used to determine the
natural course of the disease in a comparable clinical
setting. Of note was the pain relief,
in 19 of 23 patients with moderate to severe pretreatment
pain. Also there was an improved function, which suggests
that at least in approximately two thirds of the patients
there was some clinical benefit from this mode of treatment.
In eight hips, clinical conditions did not change; and in
two they worsened, requiring further treatment.
Eighteen remaining hips were thought to have been benefited by
the treatment. Six femoral heads that had already developed
varying degrees of collapse (Ficat Type III) collapsed further
(1 to 2 mm), and two round heads (Ficat II) progressed to
off-round (Ficat III). This preliminary study suggests that
further exploration of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs)
is warranted in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral
head.
Publication Types:
* Case Reports
PMID: 6671918 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]