Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy is a natural, noninvasive, wellness approach. It is based on the belief that our bodies contain electrical and magnetic fields at the cellular level.
Cells need electrical charges to function, but they can become depleted with stress, injury, and aging. PEMF helps restore them.
Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy uses electromagnetic coils to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. It’s FDA-approved for treating major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, migraines, and smoking cessation.
How PEMF Works
In PEMF, an alternating or pulsed electromagnetic field passes through tissue between electrodes placed on or near the skin. It encourages cells to restore their natural electrical charge and boosts energy levels, allowing your body to heal naturally from the inside out.
This healing power is harnessed by medical professionals in a wide range of applications. Pulsed electromagnetic fields can accelerate bone and soft tissue repair, reduce pain and stiffness, alleviate numbness or tingling from nerve damage, relieve fatigue, and help the body fight chronic infections like bacterial pneumonia.
A growing body of research suggests PEMF also supports the body’s cellular energy production. It may help stimulate ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the body’s “energy currency,” and improve oxygenation at the cellular level.
Studies also suggest PEMF can enhance the body’s ability to recover from exercise and athletic performance by enhancing circulation, stimulating muscle activity, and improving overall cell health. In one study, athletes who used a PEMF system before and after training reported less perceived muscle soreness and improved recovery times.
Another study compared the effects of PEMF exposure to a placebo on the recovery of delayed-onset muscle soreness following isometric exercise in humans. After a 10-minute PEMF treatment, subjects experienced significant improvement in DOMS symptoms versus the control group. Additionally, researchers found that PEMF treatment enhanced limb movement and muscle activation frequency but did not affect electromechanical delay or peak isometric force generation.
A growing body of research suggests PEMF can assist the body’s cellular energy production and improve oxygenation at the cellular level, which in turn supports wound healing and helps the body function more efficiently from the inside out. Research also suggests PEMF can increase blood flow to the cellular level, which is helpful for people who have ulcers and other issues that cause poor circulation.
It’s Safe
Electromagnetic energy therapy is a safe, noninvasive, drug-free treatment for pain and other health conditions. Each session lasts under an hour and is generally well tolerated by the patient, although some individuals experience mild side effects such as lightheadedness, headache, tingling, twitching, or discomfort at the site of application. These side effects usually dissipate after multiple sessions, and they are less severe than those experienced by patients receiving other forms of electromagnetic stimulation such as deep brain stimulation or vagus nerve stimulation. It’s important to let your healthcare provider know about all complementary and alternative treatments you use, including electromagnetic field therapy. This will help them coordinate your care.
Clinical trials have been done, but more research is needed to determine the efficacy of electromagnetic energy therapy for certain medical conditions and overall wellness.
It’s Effective
Electromagnetic energy therapy is a non-invasive approach to stimulating tissue healing, improving blood flow, reducing inflammation and modulating pain perception. It uses electromagnetic pulses generated by specialized coils to affect cellular and molecular processes, such as cell repair and proliferation, tissue oxygenation and coagulation, bone healing and fracture repair and more. The technology can be performed at home or by trained health professionals in clinical settings.
The magnetic field penetrates the body, and induced currents in adipose cells and tissues are shaped by three interdependent physical properties: frequency; intensity; and waveform shape (also known as repetition rate). Each of these influences the effectiveness of the treatment.
Research has shown that PEMF promotes cell permeability and increases the amount of active mitochondria. These effects may increase cellular uptake of nutrients and reduce oxidative stress, leading to improved tissue healing.
This technology can also be used to treat musculoskeletal conditions, including chronic pain conditions, such as osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. In addition, research shows that it can accelerate wound healing and improve vascularization. Additionally, it can be used to treat mental health disorders. For example, the FDA-approved treatment transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses the same technique to stimulate nerve cells in the brain and is used when standard treatments have failed for conditions such as major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Pulsed electromagnetic fields are also being used for the treatment of diabetic ulcers. Studies have found that PEMF can significantly enhance the innate healing responses of diabetic ulcers and promote a greater number of endogenous myofibroblasts.
Another use for PEMF is in the area of tendon injuries, including rotator cuff tears. One study found that patients who received PEMF in addition to conventional physical therapy had significantly better outcomes than those receiving sham treatment.
Although the scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of PEMF is limited, a growing body of research supports its potential to alleviate pain and improve function in chronic neck pain and other conditions. However, the research is often heterogeneous in terms of treatment variables, patient populations and outcome measures. This makes it difficult to draw a conclusive picture of the benefits and risks of this therapy.
It’s Easy
PEMF is a powerful addition to your care plan for pain management and recovery. The treatment works by re-charging your mitochondria (the powerhouse generators in each of our cells), allowing them to produce more adenosine triphosphate, or energy. This enhances cellular repair, helps with bone healing and even promotes mental health. It can be used for a variety of conditions and is safe to use in any setting.
To learn more about how pulsed electromagnetic fields can help you, contact the team at Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine.