Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in the treatment of pain and other symptoms in fibromyalgia: A randomized controlled study

Abstract

Low-energy pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy has been suggested as a promising therapy to increase microcirculation, which is of great concern in patients with fibromyalgia. This study evaluated the effectiveness of PEMF therapy on the treatment of fibromyalgia. A group of 108 women with fibromyalgia were allocated to a 12-week treatment period with an active Bio-Electro-Magnetic-Energy-Regulation (BEMER) device and a similar treatment period with an inactive device. Each patient received active and sham treatments in a random order. Pain and stiffness were assessed on a visual analog scale (VAS, scale 0-100 mm), and functional status was assessed by the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Mean VAS pain scores before the active and sham treatment periods were 66 (SD 22) and 63 (SD 22), respectively. After treatment periods, mean VAS pain scores had decreased significantly in active treatment, -12, 95% CI [-18, -6], and in sham treatment, -11, 95% CI [-17, -5]. Similarly, the decrease in stiffness and FIQ index after both treatments was statistically significant. However, per-protocol analysis showed no differences between active and sham treatments at any of the outcomes. This study demonstrated that low-energy PEMF therapy was not efficient in reducing pain and stiffness or in improving functioning in women with fibromyalgia. Bioelectromagnetics. 39:405-413, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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

“…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]. Other proposed mechanisms could involve nitric oxide to improve blood flow, calmodulin, or eicosanoid enzymes [55].…”

Efficacy of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy in Patients With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Randomised Controlled Study

“…Timed Up and Go (TUG) test was used for functional mobility. The TUG uses the time that a person takes to rise from a standard 45 cm chair, walk 3 m, turn around, walk back to the chair, and sit down (13). Two trials performed and the faster of the two is recorded.…”

Fibromyalgia: Recent Advances in Diagnosis, Classification, Pharmacotherapy and Alternative Remedies

“…Microcirculation is of great concern in patients with FM. Recently low-energy pulsed electromagnetic field therapy was found to increase a promising therapy to increase microcirlulation [ 110 ]; however, neither pain and stiffness were reduced nor functioning was improved by this therapy in women with FM [ 111 ].…”