Research information on PEMF

Lancet Clinical Study 1984 - Binder, Parr, Hazelman, Dept of Rheumatology, Addenbrooks Hospital, Hills Road

• The value of pulsed electro magnetic fields (PEMF) for the treatment of persistent rotator cuff tendinitis was tested in a double blind controlled study in patients whose symptoms were refractory to steroid injection and other conventional conservative measures.

• The treated group had a significant benefit compared with the control group.

• At end of the 8 week study, 65% of the patients were symptom-less and another 17% much improved

• Clinical conclusion: PEMF therapy may thus be useful in the treatment of above condition and possibly other chronic tendon lesions.

Journal of Rheumatology, Oct 1994 - Trock, Bollet, Markoll, Div of Rheumatology, Danbury Hospital, Danbury,

Connecticut, USA

• Conducted a randomized, double blind clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of PEMF in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and cervical spine

• Matched pair t-tests showed extremely significant changes from the baseline for the treated patients in both knee and cervical spine studies at the end of treatment and the one month follow-up observations

• At the end of treatment the differences in the means of the two groups (treated and placebo) reached statistical significance for pain, pain on motion and tenderness for both the knee and the cervical spine patients, where the latter achieved the greater improvement

• Clinical conclusion: PEMF has therapeutic benefit in painful osteoarthritis of the knee and cervical spine

British Journal of Dermatology, April 1992

“A portable PEMF device to enhance healing of recalcitrant venous ulcers: a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical

trial” Stiller et al, Dept of Dermatology, NY University Medical Center, New York, USA

• Assessment of the efficacy and safety of PEMF limb ulcer therapy

• 3 hour daily use, 8-week clinical trial as an adjunct to wound dressing. Wound surface area, ulcer depth and pain intensity were assessed at beginning, at weeks 4 and 8

• Significant decrease in wound area, wound depth and pain intensity favored the stimulated group

• Clinical conclusion: PEMF treatment is a safe and effective adjunct to non-surgical therapy for recalcitrant venous leg ulcers

Report of Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trials:

Trock D. et.al. Department of Medicine, Danbury Hospital, CT. J. of Rheumatology

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 analogue 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 follow-up 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 follow-up. Means of the treated group of patients with OA of the knee showed greater improvement from baseline values than the placebo group by the end of treatment and at the one month follow-up observation. Using the 2-tailed t test, at the end of treatment the differences in the means of the 2 groups reached statistical significance for pain, pain on motion, and both the patient overall assessment and the physician global assessment. 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.

Electrochemical therapy of pelvic pain: effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on tissue trauma.

Jorgensen W. et.al. International Pain Research Institute, Los Angeles, California.

Unusually effective and long-lasting relief of pelvic pain of gynaecological origin has been obtained consistently byshort exposures of affected areas to the application of a magnetic induction device. Treatments are short, fastingacting,economical and in many instances have obviated surgery. This report describes typical cases such asdysmenorrhoea, 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 byanalgesic medication. Of 17 female patients presenting with a total of 20 episodes of pelvic pain, 16 patientsrepresenting 18 episodes (90%) experienced marked, even dramatic relief, while two patients representing twoepisodes reported less than complete pain

.Evaluation of electromagnetic fields in the treatment of pain in patients with lumbar radiculopathy or whiplashsyndrome. Thuile Ch. et.al. International Society of Energy Medicine, Vienna, Austria.

Back pain and whiplash syndrome are very common diseases involving tremendous costs and extensivemedicaleffort. A quick and effective reduction of symptoms, especially pain, is required. In two prospective randomizedstudies, patients with either lumbar radiculopathy in the segments L5/S1 or whiplash syndrome were investigated.Electromagnetic devices are pulsed field (PEMF) and constant wave (CW) types. These studies indicate both areeffective, PEMF usually more quickly than CW. Pulsed magnetic fields appear to have a considerable andstatistically significant potential for reducing pain in cases of lumbar radiculopathy and whiplash syndrome.

Treatment of migraine with pulsing electromagnetic fields: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Sherman R. et.al. Orthopaedic Surgery Service, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA, USA.

The effect of exposure to pulsing electromagnetic fields on migraine activity was evaluated by having 42 subjects(34 women and 8 men), who met the International Headache Society's criteria for migraine; participate in a doubleblind,placebo-controlled study. During the first month of follow-up, 73% of those receiving actual exposure, reporteddecreased headaches (45% substantial decrease, 14% excellent decrease) compared to half of those receiving theplacebo (15% worse, 20% good, 0% excellent). Ten of the 22 subjects who had actual exposure received 2additional weeks of actual exposure, after their initial 1-month follow-up. All showed decreased headache activity(50% substantial, 38% excellent). Eight of the subjects in the placebo group elected to receive 2 weeks of actualexposure after the initial 1-month follow-up with 75% showing decreased headache activity (38% substantial, 38%excellent).In conclusion, exposure to pulsing electromagnetic fields for at least 3 weeks is an effective, short-term intervention for migraine.

Impulse magnetic-field therapy for erectile dysfunction: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Pelka R. Et.al. Universitat der Bundeswehr Munchen, Neubiberg/Munich, Germany.

This double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessed the efficacy of 3 weeks of pulsing magnetic-field therapy forerectile dysfunction (ED). In the active-treatment group, all efficacy endpoints were significantly improved at studyend (P < or = .01), with 80% reporting increases in intensity and duration of erection, frequency of genital warmth,and general well-being. Only 30% of the placebo group noted some improvement in their sexual activity; 70% had no change. No side effects were reported.

The Treatment Of Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand With Pulsed Electrical Fields (Meeting Abstract). Zizic, T. M.;Hoffman, K. C.; He, Y. D.; Caldwell, J. R.; Deal, C.; Holt, P. A.; Hungerford, D. S.; Jacobs, M. A.; Klaussen, L.W.; Krackow, K.; O'Dell, J. R.; Smith, C. Johns Hopkins Univ. Sch. of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21239 (T.M.Z.,P.A.H., D.S.H., M.A.J., K.K.)

CONCLUSION: The improvements in the clinical assessment of the treated hand that included the physician's globalevaluation, pain and function suggest that pulsed electrical stimulation as used in this study is effective for treating rheumatoid arthritis of the hand.

Effect Of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields On Hematological And Biochemical Blood Indices And Milk Production

In Sheep - Milewski S., Szczepański W., Depta A., Rychlik A. 2001. Electronic journal of polish agricultural universities, veterinary medicine, volume 4, issue 2. wttp://www.ejpau.media.pl/series/volume4/issue2/veterinary/art- 01.html

Abstract: The studies were conducted on lactating ewes. Stimulation with a pulsed electromagnetic field was carried out for 4 weeks. The basic haematological and biochemical blood indices were determined, including the activity of ALT and ALP, the levels of glucose, total protein, cholesterol, triglycerides, total calcium, inorganic phosphorus, electrolytes ( Na+, K+, Cl-) and the parameters of the acid-base equilibrium. Milk production and composition, and the growth rate of lambs were determined as well. The sheep subjected to the above stimulation showed slight changes indicating increased intensity of lipid metabolism and activity of the respiratory center, and stability of the electrolyte equilibrium and water balance. The ewes examined showed also a growing tendency as concerns the milk yield, which was confirmed by a considerably higher growth rate of lambs, observed from the 2nd to 70th day.

CONCLUSIONS

1. The haematological and biochemical research results show that the pulsed electromagnetic fields had no negative effect on lactating ewes.

2. The sheep subjected to the above stimulation showed slight changes indicating increased intensity of lipid metabolism and activity of the respiratory center, and stability of the electrolyte equilibrium and water balance.

3. The ewes examined showed a growing tendency as concerns the milk yield, as well as content of dry matter, protein and fat in their milk.

Enzymatic activity assessment in bony lesion exposed to PEMFT

Abstracts from the Second World Congress for Electricity and Magnetism in Biology and Dept. of Morphological Science and Forensic Medicine, Section of Human Anatomy, Res. Unit of ICEmB, I-41100 Modena, Italy (V.C., D.Z., F.C.) Copyright (c) 1994-1998, Information Ventures, Inc.

Content: The finding in the PEMF-treated holes of a greater expression of both TRAP (marker of the osteoclasts) and TALP, (marker of osteoblasts) with respect to the controls demonstrates that PEMFs alter cellular enzymatic activity during the early stages of bone repair. In other words PEMFs seem to accelerate the processes of bone remodeling during the early stages of the repair of transcortical holes.

Abstract: Our previous investigations on the rate of repair of transcortical holes in the diaphyseal region of metacarpal bone (McIII) of adult horses show that low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) modulate TNFalpha- and TGF-beta1 gene expression during the early stages of bone repair, increase osteoblast activity during osteogenetic phase of the repair process, improve the closure of the above-mentioned experimental bony lesion in the shaft bones of horse and affect the physical resistance of the new bone in its contents. Recent in vitro studies suggest that extremely low-frequency electric fields seem to modulate bone cell enzymatic activity. On the basis of these results, we carried out a new series of experiments to detect whether PEMFs are involved in modulating the enzymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase (TALP) and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) during the early phase of reparative process of transcortical holes drilled in long bones of horse. Two transcortical holes (4.5 mm diameter) were drilled at the same diaphyseal level in the lateral margin of the right and left metacarpal bone (McIII) of 6 adult male horses. The left McIII were exposed to PEMFs (75 Hz; 2.8 mT, 1.3 msec impulse width) 24 hr/day; the right untreated McIII were used as controls. Horses were sacrificed 8 and 15 days after the operation. The bone segments containing the holes were fixed, dehydrated in ethanol solutions and, undecalcified, embedded in methylmethacrylate. The mid-longitudinal sections of the holes were either stained with toluidine blue or processed for the evaluation of the total alkaline phosphatase (TALP) and the tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). The values of the parameters obtained on the PEMFs and control side were compared by a paired t-test. A 2-tailed p value was calculated. Fig. 1 - micrographs showing PEMF-treated hole (A); control hole (B); bar = 1 mm; positivity = dark colour. Fig. 2 - Histogram showing Mean and SD values of the TALP positive tissue in PEMF-treated (A) and in the control holes (B). Fig. 3 - Micrographs showing PEMF-treated hole (A); control hole (B); fibroblasts are well represented in A; bar=100 um. In PEMF-treated holes we found: (a) TALP is strongly positive with respect to the control ones (p<0.0002) (Figs. 1, 2); (b) fibroblastic cell component is well represented in repair tissue with respect to the control ones (Fig. 3); (c) the newly formed bony trabeculae are more abundant than in the controls; (d) the presence of osteoclasts is much more evident than in the controls (Fig. 4 - Micrograph showing TRAP positivity is more evident in PEMF treated holes (A) than in controls (B); bar=50 um). The finding in the

PEMF-treated holes of a greater expression of both TRAP (marker of the osteoclasts) and TALP, (marker of osteoblasts) with respect to the controls demonstrates that PEMFs alter cellular enzymatic activity during the early stages of bone repair. In other words PEMFs seem to accelerate the processes of bone remodeling during the early stages of the repair of transcortical holes. 6 Gene expression during the early phases of bone repair in transcortical holes in the horse: effects of

Electromagnetic field exposure - Abstracts from the Second World Congress for Electricity and Magnetism in Biology and Ort: Dept. of Medical Oncological and Radiological Sciences, Univ. of Modena, 41100 Modena, Italy (P.Z., R.C.)

The expression of the other mRNAs investigated was not affected. IL-6 increased expression in the metaphysis compared to the diaphysis suggests that the healing process is more advanced at the metaphyseal level. The difference in IL-6 expression was more evident in PEMF exposed metacarpal bones than in control ones.

We have previously demonstrated that pulsing electromagnetic fields (PEMFs), by increasing the osteogenetic response, favor bone repair in transcortical holes drilled in the metacarpal bone in adult horses. The effect was constant and reproducible in the diaphyseal region. Here we have investigated the effect of PEMF exposure during the earliest phases of bone repair, we evaluated the expression of TGF-beta1, TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNAs. Five horses were operated. Holes (4.5 mm inner diameter) were drilled into the 4th metacarpal bone. The left metacarpal bone was exposed to PEMF continuously 24 hr/day. The characteristics of the electromagnetic field were: 75 Hz, 1.3 msec impulse width, 2.8 mT (Biostim Igea). Right metacarpals were used as controls and exposed to non-energized coils. Eight days after surgery animals were sacrificed. The soft tissue present in the holes was collected and frozen in liquid nitrogen. The weight of the tissue recovered was recorded. RNA was extracted using a modification of guanidium isothiocyanate-phenol-chloroform procedure. Gene expression was evaluated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction amplification (RT-PCR), followed by Southern blot analysis. Paired Student's t test was used for statistical analysis. We found that the weight of soft tissue present in metaphyseal holes was always larger than that of diaphyseal ones (p<0.05). For what refers to diaphyseal holes, in average we recovered 0.088 +/- 0.03 mg of soft tissue from PEMF exposed and 0.069 +/-0.02 mg from controls (p<0.05). From metaphyseal holes we recovered 0.139 +/-0.06 mg from PEMF exposed holes and 0.104 +/-0.03 mg from controls (p<0.05). When the level of mRNA was investigated we observed a trend toward a decrease of TNF-alpha expression in holes exposed to PEMF. No significant difference was observed in Mrna levels of TGF-beta1 and IL-6 between exposed and control holes. We found that IL-6 mRNA expression was higher in metaphyseal holes than in diaphyseal one in PEMF  exposed holes. Our results show that the amount of soft tissue present in the holes of metacarpals exposed to PEMF is always higher than in control ones. TNF-alpha expression showed a tendency to decrease holes exposed to PEMFs compared to unexposed controls.

1. Fakuda E (1968) Mechanical deformation and electrical polarization in biological substances. Biorheology 5, 199-208 Bassett C A L, Beckcr R 0 (1962) Generation of electric potentials in bone in response to mechanicalstress. Science 137, 1063-1064. Bassett C A L, Gaston S R (1981) Treatment of ununitied tibial diaphysical fractures with pulsing electromagnetic fields. Clinical orthopedics 154 Bassett C A L (1989) Fundamental and practical aspects of therapeutic uses of pulsed electromagnetic fields. Critical Reviews in Biomedical Engineering 17,451-529 Bassett C A L (1993) Beneficial effects of electromagnetic fields. J Cell Bio-Chem 51/4,387-393 2. Becker R 0 (1962) New York State Journal of Medicine 62, 1169 Becker R 0 (1994) The pulse of life. Piper Munich, original publication 'Cross Currents" (1990) by J P Tarcher 3. Popp F A Molecular aspects in carcinogeneses (in Deutsch at al, eds) Thieme Stuttgart (1976) Popp F A Biology of Light, Paul Parey (1984) 4. Magazine "Science", October 1994 5. Kraus W (1974) On the biophysics of bone fracture & wound treatment using functional electric fields. Lecture 103,91. Conference of the German Association of Surgeons, Munich Kraus W, Lechner, F (1974) Healing pseudoarthroses and spontaneous fractures by structure-generating electrodynamic potentials, MMW 114,1814-1819. Lechner F, AscherI F R, Kraus, Schmitt-Neuerburg W (1989) Electrostimulation and magnetic field therapy: Application, results and quality assurance, Schattauer, F K Verlagsgesellschaft mbH 6. Stemme 0 (1992) Physiology of magnetic field therapy, Stemme Ver- lag Munich 7. Warnke U Humans and the Third Force, Popular Academic Publishing Company (1994). Konig L (1992) Invisible Environment - Human Beings and the playing field of electromagnetic forces, Eigenverlag Konig Munich Konig and Folkers (1992) Electrical current as an environmental factor, Pflaum Verlag Munich 8. Kafka W A (2000) Extremely low, wide frequency range pulsed eictromagnetic fields for therapeutical use (WFR-ELFPEMS). Emphyspace report: 2,1-20 Kafka W A (1999) A device and an electric or electromagnetic signal for influencing biological processes (European and further patents pending) EMPHYSPACE is an International Association on the Research of the Physiological Effects of Electromagnetic fields under normal and extreme (space) conditions and headed by Prof Dr Wolf A Kafka, Wolf A (1999) EMPHYSPACE Literatur-Datenbank: Biologische Wirkung elektromagnetischer Felder, (EMPHYSPACE Database: Biological effects of electromagnetic fields, wolfkafka@weh.de) Kafka, Wolf A (1998) Vasodilatory Effects through specially formed low energy electromagnetic pulses, EMPHYSPACE Report 1,1-2,1998 Wolf A Kafka, Johannishohe 9, D-82288 Kottgeisering Kafka, Wolf A (1970)7 Molecular Interaction Leading to the Excitation of Single Olfactory Receptor Cells. J Comp Physiol 70:105-143 Polk, Charles and Postow, Elliot (1996): Handbook of Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, CRC Press 1996 ISBN 0849306418 Stemme, Otto (1992) Physiology of Magnetic field treatment: Fundamentals; Efficacy; Applications ISBN 3-9803094-01 Otto Stemme Verlag (publishing company) Munich, Warnke, Ulrich (1992) Survey of some working mechanisms of pulsing electromagnetic fields, Bioelectrochemistry and Bioenergetics

Additional literature:

Drexel H, HildebrandtG, Schlegel K F, Weimann G Physical Medicine, Vol 4, Electro and Light Therapy, Hippokrates- Verlag (1988) Kafka W A (1999) Biologische Wirkung elektromangetischer Felder: Emphyspace Literaturdatenbank Biological effects of electromagnetic fields: Emphyspace database) Carpenter, David 0; Aryapetyan, Sinerik (1994) Biological Effects of Electric and Magnetic Fields: Sources and mechanism (Vol 1); Beneficial and Harmful Effects (Vol 2); Academic

Press 1994 ISBN 012160262.

Drexel, Heinrich; Becker-Casademont, Rudolf; Seichert, Nikola (1988) Physikalische Medizin: Licht und Elektrotherapie (Band 4) (Physical medicine; Light therapy and electrotherapy (Vol 4), Hippokrates Verlag (publishing company) ISBN

3-7773-0826-9,1998

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