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A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use

Received: 20 September 2013     Published: 20 October 2013
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Abstract

Delivery of health care demands evidence-based practice. Evidence-based practice helps to ensure that all facets of health care delivery are subject to a higher level of accountability. This helps to assure that the patient is receiving treatment that has some proof of efficacy. In recent years, physiotherapy practice has been influenced by a swell of research which, in many cases, supports current practice and, in some cases, influences change of practice. Despite the fact that there is a significant increase in the numbers of clinical trials and reviews in Physiotherapy, including research in electromagnetic modalities and mechanical modalities, it is not uncommon for a practitioner to feel at a loss to answer, “Exactly how does this treatment work?” This paper will review the mechanisms of action of the most common electromagnetic modalities and provide a rationale as to why “pulsed” fields seem to produce more significant effects compared with continuous applications. It will be shown that significant tissue healing effects, particularly with the modality PEMF, are likely the result of increased activity in non-excitable cells. The reputation of electromagnetic modalities has suffered in recent years, likely due to a lack of understanding of mechanisms for action. In the literature, the understanding in this area has made considerable progress over the past ten years. This review will explain the science at a cellular level and suggest the potential mechanisms for action for the modalities with specific focus on PEMF.

Published in American Journal of Health Research (Volume 1, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13
Page(s) 51-55
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields, Physiotherapy, Modalities, Mechanism of Action

References
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[2] Panagopoulos DJ, Karabarbounis A, Margaritis LH. Mechanism for action of electromagnetic fields on cells. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2002;298(1):95-102.
[3] Ganesan K, Gengadharan AC, Balachandran C, Manohar BM, Puvanakrishnan R. Low frequency pulsed electromagnetic field--a viable alternative therapy for arthritis. Indian J Exp Biol. 2009;47(12):939-48.
[4] Chang WH-S, Chen L-T, Sun J-S, Lin F-H. Effect of pulse-burst electromagnetic field stimulation on osteoblast cell activities. Bioelectromagnetics. 2004;25(6):457-65.
[5] Mattei MD, Caruso A, Pezzetti F, Pellati A, Stabellini G, Sollazzo V, et al. Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields on Human Articular Chondrocyte Proliferation. Connective Tissue Research. 2001;42(4):269-79.
[6] Richards TL, Lappin MS, Acosta-Urquidi J, Kraft GH, Heide AC, Lawrie FW, et al. Double-blind study of pulsing magnetic field effects on multiple sclerosis. J Altern Complement Med. 1997;3(1):21-9.
[7] Sandyk R. Role of the pineal gland in multiple sclerosis: a hypothesis. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine. 1997;3(3):267-90.
[8] Markov M. Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy history, state of the art and future. The Environmentalist. 2007;27(4):465-75.
[9] Varani K, Gessi S, Merighi S, Iannotta V, Cattabriga E, Spisani S, et al. Effect of low frequency electromagnetic fields on A2A adenosine receptors in human neutrophils. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2002;136(1):57-66.
[10] Gómez-Ochoa I, Gómez-Ochoa P, Gómez-Casal F, Cativiela E, Larrad-Mur L. Pulsed electromagnetic fields decrease proinflammatory cytokine secretion (IL-1β and TNF-α) on human fibroblast-like cell culture. Rheumatology International. 2011;31(10):1283-9.
[11] Farndale R, Murray J. Pulsed electromagnetic fields promote collagen production in bone marrow fibroblasts via athermal mechanisms. Calcified Tissue International. 1985;37(2):178-82.
[12] Delle Monache S, Alessandro R, Iorio R, Gualtieri G, Colonna R. Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) induce in vitro angiogenesis process in human endothelial cells. Bioelectromagnetics. 2008;29(8):640-8.
[13] Pipitone N, Scott DL. Magnetic pulse treatment for knee osteoarthritis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Curr Med Res Opin. 2001;17(3):190-6.
[14] Sutbeyaz ST, Sezer N, Koseoglu F, Kibar S. Low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in fibromyalgia: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical study. Clin J Pain. 2009;25(8):722-8.
[15] Kennedy WF, Roberts CG, Zuege RC, Dicus WT. Use of pulsed electromagnetic fields in treatment of loosened cemented hip prostheses. A double-blind trial. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1993;286(286):198-205.
[16] Sutbeyaz ST, Sezer N, Koseoglu BF. The effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields in the treatment of cervical osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial. Rheumatol Int. 2006;26(4):320-4.
[17] Uzunca K, Birtane M, Tastekin N. Effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in lateral epicondylitis. Clin Rheumatol. 2007;26(1):69-74.
[18] Shupak NM, McKay JC, Nielson WR, Rollman GB, Prato FS, Thomas AW. Exposure to a specific pulsed low-frequency magnetic field: a double-blind placebo-controlled study of effects on pain ratings in rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia patients. Pain Res Manag. 2006;11(2):85-90.
[19] Bassett C, Schink-Ascani M. Long-term pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) results in congenital pseudarthrosis. Calcified Tissue International. 1991;49(3):216-20.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Brett Wade. (2013). A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use. American Journal of Health Research, 1(3), 51-55. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13

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    ACS Style

    Brett Wade. A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use. Am. J. Health Res. 2013, 1(3), 51-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13

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    AMA Style

    Brett Wade. A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use. Am J Health Res. 2013;1(3):51-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13,
      author = {Brett Wade},
      title = {A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use},
      journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
      volume = {1},
      number = {3},
      pages = {51-55},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20130103.13},
      abstract = {Delivery of health care demands evidence-based practice. Evidence-based practice helps to ensure that all facets of health care delivery are subject to a higher level of accountability. This helps to assure that the patient is receiving treatment that has some proof of efficacy. In recent years, physiotherapy practice has been influenced by a swell of research which, in many cases, supports current practice and, in some cases, influences change of practice. Despite the fact that there is a significant increase in the numbers of clinical trials and reviews in Physiotherapy, including research in electromagnetic modalities and mechanical modalities, it is not uncommon for a practitioner to feel at a loss to answer, “Exactly how does this treatment work?” This paper will review the mechanisms of action of the most common electromagnetic modalities and provide a rationale as to why “pulsed” fields seem to produce more significant effects compared with continuous applications.  It will be shown that significant tissue healing effects, particularly with the modality PEMF, are likely the result of increased activity in non-excitable cells. The reputation of electromagnetic modalities has suffered in recent years, likely due to a lack of understanding of mechanisms for action. In the literature, the understanding in this area has made considerable progress over the past ten years.  This review will explain the science at a cellular level and suggest the potential mechanisms for action for the modalities with specific focus on PEMF.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

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Author Information
  • Therapist Assistant Program, Okanagan College, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

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