Low frequency pulse therapy is an innovative noninvasive approach to treating various conditions. The benefits include pain relief and tissue repair. Furthermore, this therapy has minimal contraindications and side effects.
Pulsed magnetic fields recharge a cell’s optimal voltage, stimulating its inner structures and decreasing ectopic firing by modulating ion channels and suppressing inflammation in nerve tissues.
Pain Relief
Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) penetrate tissues and cells to stimulate their function and aid the body’s natural healing processes. Magnetic energy influences cell ions and electrolytes movement within cells, leading to chemical and electrical reactions throughout the entire body. PEMF therapy reduces inflammation while improving circulation for tissue repair while simultaneously improving oxygen absorption – both essential components for healing.
Studies have demonstrated the use of PEMFs as an effective nonpharmacologic way to treat chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. Treatment has shown to reduce pain, increase range of motion and enhance sleep quality – helping patients feel less distressed while simultaneously feeling rejuvenated and relaxed.
Low frequency pulsed electromagnetic field therapies have cellular effects linked to pain relief through modulation of nerve signaling. By inhibiting pain-signaling molecules and altering activation patterns of nociceptors, these therapies may help reset your brain’s pain processing system and alleviate persistent pain.
Women suffering from fibromyalgia were recently subjected to either PEMF therapy or sham therapy for three weeks in a recent randomized clinical trial (RCT). At the conclusion of the study, those in the PEMF group demonstrated improved FIQ scores, VAS pain scores, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores, Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) pain scores compared with those in the sham group; these gains were maintained during follow up at 12 weeks post-intervention.
PEMFs may also help provide longer-term pain relief by aiding recovery from central sensitization. Central sensitization occurs when chronic pain conditions, such as chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain, lead to changes in the nervous system that amplify and prolong pain signals even after their original injury has healed – often creating “flares” or windups of chronic pain that are difficult to overcome. PEMFs offer another potential source of longer-term relief from central sensitization.
Studies have demonstrated the power of pairing PEMF treatment with low laser light therapy to accelerate results and provide swift yet lasting relief from painful musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis knee pain, post-total hip arthroplasty pain relief, temporomandibular disorders neck pain and chronic low back pain.
Tissue Repair
LLLT helps the body initiate its own natural process of healing and repair, increasing oxygen delivery to tissues and cells as well as flushing away toxins from cells for a more healthy, vibrant state of existence.
Noninvasive therapeutic ultrasound (NITU) offers non-invasive solutions for tissue healing and pain relief as well as managing chronic conditions like diabetes. As an effective tool, this therapy can also be combined with chiropractic or physical therapy treatment plans for comprehensive care for our patients.
PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) therapy utilizes electromagnetic fields to stimulate cell function and facilitate natural healing processes, offering potential relief from chronic back pain. This groundbreaking technology has gained immense attention.
Magnetic frequencies offer more effective treatment of chronic back pain because unlike electric fields they penetrate deeper into tissues without being diminished by skin’s high resistance stratum corneum layer. This allows a more targeted and precise approach to stimulating cells directly, providing more targeted stimulation to treat chronic back pain effectively.
Pulsed magnetic fields have been shown to increase activity of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) within cells, increasing metabolic rate and helping restore normal cellular environment. This increase can assist wound healing, enhance muscle and bone strength development, reduce inflammation and ease pain relief.
Research has also demonstrated the efficacy of LLLT in providing oxygen directly to cells and tissues, thus speeding the healing process. Furthermore, studies have also confirmed its ability to decrease oxidative stress while inhibiting free radical damage caused by free radicals.
Though its mechanistic understanding is clear, clinical evidence for low-level laser therapy (LLLT) remains limited in most areas – particularly for treating neuropathies caused by diabetes or chronic nerve inflammation such as neuropathic pain or diabetic neuropathy. Preclinical evidence of efficacy has increased, yet more extensive trials will need to be completed before conclusively demonstrating clinical efficacy.
Inflammation Reduction
PEMF therapy uses electromagnetic pulses to penetrate deep into tissues and cells, increasing cellular activity as well as oxygen and nutrient exchange between oxygenated tissues and those needing repair, helping the body reduce inflammation faster, speed up repair rates more rapidly, and aid natural healing processes.
Pulsed electromagnetic fields differ from electric ones in that their frequencies are much lower, requiring only low resistance tissue layers for passage (as opposed to thick barrier skin cells). As a result, PEMF therapy is less harsh on skin and less likely to have side effects.
Studies demonstrate the positive benefits of PEMF therapy on cell growth and differentiation, bone density increases, blood circulation improves, pain relief is provided as well as anti-inflammatory benefits, fracture repair speed is expedited as well as soft tissue injuries like tendon injuries and fractures can heal faster. PEMF therapy can be utilized for various health conditions like arthritis, back pain sciatica chronic fatigue depression sports injuries as well as many more ailments.
PEMF therapy may also prove highly beneficial in relieving chronic neuropathic pain. Studies have demonstrated its efficacy at significantly improving functional outcomes and quality of life for those suffering from peripheral nerve injury or dysfunction. The stimulation of cellular activity and increased blood circulation may result in new nerve fiber generation as well as decreasing pain levels by inhibiting IL-6 expression, making this an attractive treatment option.
Low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) therapy can further amplify PEMF therapy’s pain-suppressing benefits when used together. LIPUS is a noninvasive technique that uses mechanical vibrations to stimulate tissues and cells through physical phenomena like acoustic streaming, cavitation and the creation of microbubbles and microjets in liquids and tissues [29, 30]. Like PEMF therapy, LIPUS works through biological mechanisms including stimulating cell and tissue morphogenesis, improving vascular flow/nutrient supply while decreasing inflammation/swelling as well as increasing production of fibroblasts [29, 30].
At 5C Functional Medicine, we specialize in PEMF therapy for an array of conditions and ailments. When combined with low laser light therapy, this powerful combination helps recharge cells while improving circulation and helping the body heal at the cellular level.
Blood Circulation
Poor circulation can result in many unpleasant symptoms, including numbness and pain in extremities, fatigue, achy joints and muscles, shortness of breath or feeling as if there is no oxygen in the blood. This could be a warning sign of more serious medical conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, gangrene or pulmonary embolism; PEMF therapy increases blood flow to affected areas to improve circulation while relieving pain thereby decreasing or eliminating these symptoms altogether.
Pulsed electromagnetic fields have the ability to penetrate deep into tissue, stimulating cells and improving their activity, leading to improved circulation and reduced inflammation, hastening healing processes and increasing energy production by cells.
Studies have demonstrated the potential benefits of PEMF therapy on blood flow both locally and systemically. They work by stimulating smooth muscle cells in arteries and veins, which opens and closes blood vessels according to need, leading to improved circulation.
PEMFs improve circulation by decreasing the viscosity of blood. Viscosity rises when there is injury or inflammation, due to factors like fibrinogen and C-reactive protein production, platelet clumping and adhesion, higher protein levels in vascular systems and extravascular tissues, etc. PEMFs help decrease viscosity by slowing clot formation rate while simultaneously increasing activity of enzymes that dissolve them.
One study used a PEMF device to treat diabetic-related foot ulcers in patients with low circulation. Results of treatment using 1Hz frequency and 10mT intensity (10 Gauss) found significant increases in perfusion and volume components of laser doppler blood flow at the peri-ulcer site; no change occurred at contralateral nonulcerated skin sites or tissue temperature.
Research has also demonstrated that PEMFs can increase microvascular flow and tissue oxygenation in the brain, potentially increasing drug delivery through blood-brain barriers to tumor sites more effectively, thus helping chemotherapy drugs reach their targets more effectively. While more work needs to be done here, this promising development makes for exciting news!
