From the Guidelines
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy is effective for pain relief in patients with knee osteoarthritis, but its overall effectiveness is limited due to the lack of strong evidence, as stated in the 2022 AAOS clinical practice guideline summary 1. The effectiveness of PEMF therapy is supported by limited evidence, which suggests that it may be used to improve pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Key points to consider when using PEMF therapy include:
- The strength of recommendation for PEMF therapy is limited, implying that practitioners should exercise clinical judgment and consider patient preference when deciding to use this modality 1.
- PEMF therapy may be used to improve pain, but its effectiveness for other outcomes, such as function, is less clear.
- The optimal dosage and duration of PEMF therapy are not well established, but it is typically used for 20-30 minutes per session, 1-2 times daily.
- Magnetic field strengths range from 1-100 Gauss, with lower intensities often used for longer durations.
- PEMF therapy may have benefits for other conditions, such as:
- Osteoarthritis pain
- Chronic low back pain
- Bone healing
- Wound healing
- Muscle recovery However, more research is needed to fully establish its effectiveness for these conditions. It is essential to consult a healthcare provider before starting PEMF therapy, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking medications, as it may be contraindicated in certain situations, such as those with electrical implants like pacemakers, during pregnancy, or if you have active cancer 1.
From the Research
Effectiveness of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy
- The effectiveness of PEMF therapy has been studied in various contexts, including bone healing and osteoarthritis treatment 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that PEMF increased healing rate and relieved pain in patients with fractures, with moderate quality evidence 2.
- Another study found that PEMF stimulated bone formation and fracture healing by promoting the synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins and exerting a direct effect on the production of proteins that regulate gene transcription 3.
- A clinical trial using low amplitude PEMF on patients with non-union or delayed union of long bones found that 11 out of 13 patients had successful bone healing within an average treatment period of 14 weeks 4.
- A long-term follow-up study of fracture nonunions treated with PEMFs found that patients who used the device for more than three hours a day had a success rate of 80%, and that the success rate was unaffected by various factors such as age, gender, and fracture type 5.
- A systematic review of systematic reviews on the use of PEMF therapy in osteoarthritis found that PEMF appears to be effective in the short term to relieve pain and improve function in patients with OA, but that the existing studies had low or medium quality and heterogeneous treatment schemes 6.
Key Findings
- PEMF therapy can increase healing rate and relieve pain in patients with fractures 2.
- PEMF can stimulate bone formation and fracture healing by promoting the synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins and exerting a direct effect on the production of proteins that regulate gene transcription 3.
- Low amplitude PEMF can be effective in treating non-union or delayed union of long bones 4.
- The success rate of PEMF treatment for nonunion repair is high, with 92% of patients maintaining a solid union at four years follow-up 5.
- PEMF therapy appears to be effective in the short term to relieve pain and improve function in patients with OA, but more high-quality studies are needed to confirm its efficacy 6.