Effect of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on experimental pain: A double-blind, randomized study in healthy young adults

Abstract

Past studies have suggested that pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy can decrease pain. To date, however, it remains difficult to determine if the analgesic effect observed in patients are attributable to a direct effect of PEMF on pain or to an indirect effect of PEMF on inflammation and healing. In the present study, we used an experimental pain paradigm to evaluate the direct effect of PEMF on pain intensity, pain unpleasantness and temporal summation of pain. Twenty-four healthy subjects (mean age 22 ± 2 years; 9 males) participated in the experiment. Both real and sham PEMF were administered to every participant using a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design.For each visit, PEMF was applied for 10 minutes on the right forearm using a portable device. Experimental pain was evoked before (baseline) and after PEMF with a 9 cm 2 Pelletier type thermode, applied on the right forearm (120 sec stimulation; temperature individually adjusted to produce moderate baseline pain). Pain intensity and unpleasantness were evaluated using a 0-100 numerical pain rating scale.

Effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Versus Aerobic Exercise on Primary Dysmenorrhea

“…The result of this study disagreed with [44] who studied the effect of 50Hz magnetic field on sex hormones of adult female rats exposed to a 50Hz sinusoidal magnetic field at approximately 25 microT (0.25 Gauss) for 18 weeks. Serum level progesterone was measured before, after, and during the exposure.…”

Evaluation of β-endorphin concentration, mood, and pain intensity in men with idiopathic hip osteoarthritis treated with variable magnetic field

“…Confirmation of the above studies are the results of the studies of Pasek et al [17] and Beaulieu et al, [27] in which they showed a positive effect of a treatment with use of variable and static magnetic fields on the intensity of perceived pain of joints, also in patients suffering from OA of knee joints and joints of upper limbs.…”

Neuromodulation for Pain Management in the Inpatient Setting: A Narrative Review

“…Overview rTMS was first described by Baker et al in 1985 as a non-invasive, non-convulsive neuromodulatory therapy that utilizes alternating magnetic field to induce electromagnetic conduction in the electrical circuitry of the brain [13,32,33]. The user-generated magnetic field influences the electrically sensitive membrane potential of cortical neurons, which can affect the excitability or inhibition of specific neural circuits and may induce long-term potentiation or long-term depression, respectively.…”

“…PEMF is another non-invasive neuromodulatory technique that uses electromagnetic fields to induce electrical induction to target specific tissues and has been explored as an analgesic technique [33]. Previous studies have found that PEMF enhances tissue recovery and repair via induction of Eddy currents, which may have an effect in gene expression such as the endogenous opioid pathways [54].…”

“…PEMF has been considered for various types of pain, including inflammatory pain, diabetic peripheral neuropathies, chronic pain, low back pain, fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis [33]. Diabetic neuropathy affects roughly 50% of individuals with diabetes, with pain being the most common symptom.…”