PEMF Studies

There are thousands of PEMF studies available, so we've analyzed a wide range of them on different conditions and broken them down to make them easy to understand. Whenever possible, we've included the settings used to achieve their results.

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ATP - Cellular Energy Production

You may have heard the saying that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell, and that's because they are major generators of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), a key molecule in energy storage and transfer in living organisms. One of the most significant applications of PEMFs is enhancing the utilization and production of ATP, thereby boosting energy levels in the body's tissues.

To understand how this works, we first need to grasp ATP hydrolysis, the process by which ATP is broken down into ADP (adenosine diphosphate) to release energy. The enzyme responsible for this task is ATPase, which can be found in mitochondria.

When ATPase was exposed to 60 Hz PEMF and different intensities of 3 gauss and 5 gauss this enhanced the hydrolysis activity, whereas 1 gauss exposure caused no significant changes. So, in addition to helping with ATP synthesis, PEMFs increase the production of energy from the ATP itself, but only if the stimulation is above a specific intensity threshold.

PubMed ID: 19496105

Back Pain

The study aimed to investigate whether PEMF therapy could provide additional benefits for people with chronic low back pain compared to traditional physical therapy alone. Conducted at a clinic in Cairo, Egypt, from May 2015 to September 2016, the study involved 50 participants with chronic low back pain. These participants were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group, which received regular physical therapy plus real PEMF therapy (50Hz frequency, 20 Gauss intensity), and the control group, which received regular physical therapy plus a fake (sham) PEMF therapy. Both groups underwent 12 treatment sessions over four weeks.

The study measured pain levels, disability due to back pain, and the range of motion (ROM) of the lower back. The results showed that the group receiving PEMF therapy experienced significantly less pain and disability and had better lower back movement in all directions (forward, backward, and side to side) compared to the control group. In conclusion, adding PEMF therapy to regular physical therapy resulted in superior improvements in pain relief, daily function, and back movement for patients with chronic low back pain. This suggests that PEMF therapy could be a valuable addition to traditional treatments for chronic low back pain.

PubMed ID: 30177406

Breast Cancer

The currently available anti-cancer therapies, such as gamma radiation and chemotherapeutic agents, induce cell death and cellular senescence (a state in which a cell stops dividing) not only in cancer cells but also in the adjacent normal tissue.

They studied how breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and normal cells found in connective tissue (fibroblasts - FF95) reacted to PEMFs.

PEMFs were applied at a frequency of 8 Hz, intensity of 110 gauss, using a square wave, and applied twice daily for 5 days.

The data collected showed that the application of PEMF decreases the proliferation rate (how quickly cells multiply or reproduce) and viability (their ability to survive and function normally) of breast cancer cells while having the opposite effect on normal fibroblasts. Additionally, PEMF induces cell death and cellular senescence only in breast cancer cells without any effect on the non-cancerous cells.

PubMed ID: 38473720

Brain Health & Traumatic Brain Injuries

This study explored if PEMF could help the brain, especially after injuries like strokes or traumatic brain injuries, by improving blood flow and oxygen levels in brain tissue.

PEMF treatment caused the brain's small blood vessels (arterioles) to widen from an average of 26.4 micrometers to 29.1 micrometers, which increased blood flow through the capillaries and sped up red blood cell movement by about 5.5%. This enhanced blood flow improved oxygenation in the brain tissue, as indicated by a specific decrease in a marker (NADH fluorescence). When nitric oxide (NO) production was blocked, these effects did not occur, showing that NO is crucial for PEMF's impact.

This study is the first to demonstrate that PEMF can rapidly enhance blood flow and oxygen levels in the brain's small blood vessels, with benefits lasting at least three hours after just 30 minutes of treatment. These improvements were driven by an increase in nitric oxide, suggesting that PEMF could be a valuable treatment for improving brain health following injuries like strokes or trauma.

PubMed ID: 25343187

Blood Vessels Expansion - Vasodilation

This study looked at how pulsed electromagnetic fields affect small blood vessels in rats. The researchers thought that PEMF might help these blood vessels expand, which could be part of how it helps heal injuries.

In the experiment, rats were given either PEMF or a fake treatment for 2 or 60 minutes. The size of their blood vessels was measured before and after the treatments. The results showed that PEMF made the blood vessels expand significantly, with a 9% increase in size after 2 minutes and an 8.7% increase after 60 minutes. The rats that got the fake treatment didn't show any changes in their blood vessels. PEMF didn't affect blood pressure, heart rate, or tissue temperature.

These results suggest that PEMF can make blood vessels expand, which might be a reason why it's effective in healing. This effect was not due to changes in overall blood pressure or temperature.

PubMed ID: 14656663

Blood Vessels Formation - Angiogenesis

This study examines how PEMFs affect the growth of new blood vessels in human endothelial cells (HUVECs), a process called angiogenesis, which is crucial for healing damaged tissues.

Researchers discovered that exposure to PEMFs with a peak intensity of 40 Gauss and a frequency of 80 Hz enhanced the cells' ability to grow and form new blood vessels by changing how the cells produce energy. Instead of relying on their usual energy production method, which can create harmful by products called reactive oxygen species (ROS), the cells switched to a faster and cleaner energy production process known as glycolysis.

This switch not only provided the cells with more energy but also created a healthier environment for cell growth. The study also found that this change in energy production was linked to changes in the cells' mitochondria, the parts of the cell that generate energy. Specifically, the mitochondria underwent a process called fission, which helps the cell maintain its energy needs and overall health.

Study link: click here

Bone Health - Type 2 Diabetes

Over 12 weeks, mice exposed to PEMF at a frequency of 15 Hz and intensity of 20 Gauss showed significant improvements in both the spongy inner layer (cancellous bone) and the dense outer layer (cortical bone), as evidenced by X-ray imaging.

Additionally, PEMF treatment led to increased bone formation, indicated by higher bone formation activity and faster addition of new bone minerals to existing bone, without affecting the process of bone resorption (the breakdown of bone tissue and release of minerals like calcium into the bloodstream). Gene expression analysis showed that PEMF increased the activity of genes related to bone formation through Wnt/β-catenin signaling but did not affect the signaling involved in osteoclastogenesis (bone breakdown).

PubMed ID: 28883516

Cartilage Repair

The research showed that PEMF stimulates chondrocytes (cartilage cells) to rapidly increase in number, develop into specialized cells, and enhance their ability to produce and assemble the extracellular matrix. This effect is linked to the release of anabolic morphogens, such as bone morphogenetic proteins, which are essential for the formation, maintenance, and repair of bones and cartilage.

Additionally, PEMF promotes the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines through adenosine receptors A2A and A3, with A2A facilitating blood vessel dilation and regulating immune responses, while A3 is involved in modulating inflammation and protecting tissues from damage. These findings were observed in both lab-based and in vivo studies.

PubMed ID: 29020880

Depression

Several studies have highlighted the efficacy of transcranial pulsed electromagnetic field (tPEMF) stimulation in treating depression.

In a double-blind randomized controlled trial by Martiny et al. (2010), tPEMF therapy significantly improved depression scores in 50 patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) over 5 weeks, as measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HAMD-17).

Rohan et al. (2013) also conducted a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial, demonstrating that a portable electromagnetic device had an immediate positive effect on depression severity in 63 patients with unipolar or bipolar depression. The active treatment group experienced significantly greater improvements than the sham-treated control group.

Straaso et al. (2014) conducted a dose-remission study without a sham treatment, where 65 TRD patients underwent tPEMF stimulation for 8 weeks. This study found a significant reduction in depression scores, with no difference between one and two daily doses, indicating both regimens were equally effective.

PubMed ID: 27449361

Doxorubicin "the red devil"

A 2024 explored how PEMF stimulation could improve the effectiveness of doxorubicin, a drug commonly used to treat various cancers, including breast cancer. The researchers focused on MDA-MB-231, a type of human breast cancer cell, to see if PEMF could enhance doxorubicin's ability to kill cancer cells.

In the experiment, cancer cells were treated with doxorubicin and then exposed to PEMF for 60 minutes, three times a day, over 24 or 48 hours. The results showed that combining doxorubicin with PEMF significantly reduced the number of surviving cancer cells compared to using doxorubicin alone.

The study also revealed that PEMF made doxorubicin more effective by increasing the cancer cells' arrest in a specific phase of their growth cycle, known as the late G2 phase. This was achieved by boosting the activity of certain proteins that stop the cell cycle, leading to more DNA damage in the cancer cells.

PubMed ID: 38925852

Headaches & Migraines

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers investigated the effects of PEMF on migraine activity among 42 subjects who met the criteria for migraine according to the International Headache Society. The treatment involved applying PEMF to the inner thighs for one hour per day, five days per week, over a period of two weeks.

During the first month of follow-up, 73% of those who received actual PEMF reported decreased headaches, with 45% reporting a good decrease and 14% an excellent decrease. In contrast, only a small percentage of the placebo group reported decreased headaches, with 20% reporting a good decrease and none reporting an excellent decrease; 15% even reported worse headaches.

Additional findings showed that among the subgroup who received an extra two weeks of PEMF treatment after the initial follow-up, all experienced decreased headache activity, with 50% reporting a good decrease and 38% an excellent decrease.

Conversely, among those who opted not to receive additional treatment, 12 out of 13 still showed decreased headache activity by the second month, with 29% reporting a good decrease and 43% an excellent decrease.

PubMed ID: 11279973

Hypoxia

It's important to understand that low oxygen levels in the body, a condition known as hypoxia, can occur during various situations such as stroke, heart attack, or even just when blood flow is restricted to certain areas. When cells are deprived of oxygen, they can become damaged or even die, leading to serious health issues.

In this study, scientists looked at how low-energy electromagnetic fields affect different types of cells in the body. They focused on cells similar to neurons (nerve cells) and microglial cells (immune cells in the brain). Their main goal was to see how these electromagnetic fields might help protect against damage caused by inflammation and lack of oxygen in the cells.

They tested this by exposing the cells to electromagnetic fields and then subjecting them to conditions similar to low oxygen levels for different amounts of time. They found that the electromagnetic fields helped to reduce cell death and prevented cells from undergoing a type of programmed cell death called apoptosis when they were under low oxygen conditions.

Additionally, the electromagnetic fields stopped a protein called HIF-1α, which is involved in responding to low oxygen levels, from becoming active in the cells. They also found that the electromagnetic fields decreased the production of harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are usually produced when cells are starved of oxygen.

PubMed ID: 27639248

Insomnia

A 4-week study by the University der Bundeswehr München in Germany looked into PEMF devices for insomnia. 101 patients were randomly given either a working device or a placebo. Among those with the active device:

70% complete relief

24% clear improvement

6% slight improvement

The active-treatment group showed significant improvements in sleep latency, interruptions, sleepiness, concentration, and headaches. No adverse effects of treatment were reported.

PubMed ID: 11697020

Muscle Readiness & Responsiveness

This study investigated how Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) stimulation affects muscle activity during cycling, focusing on its impact on oxygen supply and muscle performance. 20 semi-professional cyclists participated in the study. They performed a cycling exercise where PEMF stimulation was either active or inactive in a randomized order. The exercise session began with a one-minute warm-up phase of cycling without any load, followed by an increase in power to a personalized workload level for each cyclist.

During the exercise sessions, PEMF loops were placed on specific muscles (vastus medialis and biceps femoris) of the right leg to measure their effects. Electromyographic (EMG) activity, which measures muscle electrical activity, was recorded from these muscles. Additionally, blood lactate levels were measured before and during the exercise to understand the metabolic impact of PEMF stimulation.

The results showed that when PEMF stimulation was active, there was a noticeable increase in muscle activity during the initial warm-up phase of cycling. This increase in muscle activity suggests that PEMF could potentially enhance muscle readiness and responsiveness to exercise. Furthermore, the study found that blood lactate levels were higher during PEMF stimulation sessions. Elevated blood lactate levels typically indicate increased utilization of glucose by muscles during exercise, highlighting PEMF's influence on metabolic processes.

PubMed ID: 10048902

Non-union Bone Fracture

Since 1979, PEMF has been FDA-approved for treating nonunion fractures, which is the body's inability to heal a fracture, making it as one of the earliest recognized applications for PEMF.

One study involved 139 patients with established non-union fractures who received PEMF treatment. Patients who used the device for less than an average of three hours a day had a success rate of 35.7% (5 out of 14), while those who used it for more than three hours daily had an 80% success rate (108 out of 135).

Treatment success remained consistent regardless of factors such as bone length, fracture type (open or closed), duration of non-union (ranging from nine months to ten years), patient age (under or over 60 years), gender, previous treatment history, infection status, fracture gap size (up to 1cm), or weightbearing status.

Patients who averaged more than three hours of PEMF treatment daily and initially achieved healing were clinically and radiographically reassessed four years post-treatment, revealing that 92% maintained a solid union.

PubMed ID: 10147555

Osteoporosis - PEMF vs Alendronate

In a study on postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) in southwest China, 44 women were randomly assigned to either alendronate, a commonly used medication for treating postmenopausal osteoporosis, or PEMF treatment.

The main goal was to see how these treatments affected bone density in the spine and hip, as well as vitamin D levels, muscle strength, and balance over 24 weeks.

Results showed no significant difference between the two groups in improving bone density, muscle strength, balance, and vitamin D levels. This suggests that PEMF treatment is as effective as the commonly used medication alendronate for PMO over the 24-week period.

PubMed ID: 23362148

Period Pain

A total of 40 women aged 20 to 30 with primary dysmenorrhea were selected and randomly divided into two equal groups. Group A received PEMF treatment three times a week for three months, with each session lasting 30 minutes, in addition to standard medical treatment. In contrast, Group B, the control group, received only standard medical treatment, specifically NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

The researchers assessed menstrual distress and pain using a menstrual distress questionnaire and a VAS (visual analog scale) before and after the treatment for both groups.

The findings indicated significant improvements in menstrual distress and pain scores for both groups after the treatment, with the PEMF group showing more favourable outcomes. The VAS scores demonstrated a highly statistically significant difference after treatment, favouring the PEMF group. Similarly, the menstrual distress questionnaire results the menstrual distress questionnaire results also reflected a significant reduction in symptoms for the PEMF group compared to the non the PEMF group.

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research: Study link

PTSD

This study explored whether PEMF therapy could reduce PTSD-like behaviours and promote brain cell growth in rats.

The rats were divided into groups: some were exposed to PTSD stress, and some weren't, with some receiving PEMF treatment and others not. The PTSD rats treated with PEMF received daily sessions for 14 days, with each session lasting 16 minutes at a frequency of 30 Hz and intensity of 70 gauss.

The results showed that these PTSD rats had less fear and anxiety, and improved brain cell growth, compared to those that didn’t receive PEMF. This suggests PEMF might help reduce PTSD symptoms and protect brain health.

PubMed ID: 6570745

Reduced DOMS

Yonsei University performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to compare the effects of PEMF therapy and sham treatment on DOMS-related variables in elbow flexors at 24, 48, and 72 hours after delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) induction exercise.

In total, 30 healthy male college students measured muscle soreness, peak torque, median frequency (MDF), and electromechanical delay (EMD) during isometric contraction at 24, 48, and 72 hours after DOMS induction exercise.

Overall, the application of PEMF was found to be effective in reducing the physiological deficits associated with DOMS, including improved recovery of perceived muscle soreness, MDF, and EMD during isometric contraction, but there was no difference in isometric peak torque generation. This study indicates that PEMF is useful as a modality to reduce DOMS symptoms.

PubMed ID: 24906295

Reduced Inflammation

In chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and asthma, pro-inflammatory cytokines are continuously released. These cytokines fuel inflammation, contributing to tissue damage and disease progression. They play a central role in driving the inflammatory process characteristic of these conditions, leading to symptoms such as pain, swelling, and tissue dysfunction.

One study used 15 gauss PEMFs at 75 Hz, and it was observed to increase A2A (adenosine receptors) and ARs (androgens) within the body. This is associated with a significant inhibition of the pro-inflammatory signalling pathway (NF-kB), leading to a decrease in both the synthesis and activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

The anti-inflammatory and tissue-preserving effects exerted by PEMFs through the specific action on A2A and ARs show great potential to be exploited also to control brain inflammation and to provide neuroprotection following brain damage.

Science Direct ID: S1094715921064266

Refractory Migraines

In this placebo-controlled study they investigate the effect of PEMF therapy on refractory migraines, which is a type of migraine that does not respond to typical migraine treatments.

They used 10 Hz PEMFs at 40-50 gauss intensity and they saw a significant improvement for the active group in terms of their headache days, durations and work-loss hours due to headache compared to the placebo group after 2 weeks.

The added results of the assessment of the active group indicated a significant improvement in the days and duration of headaches, work-loss hours and number of medications even after a following 4-8-month period.

International Journal of Clinical Trials: Study link

Rheumatoid Arthritis

This study explores the benefits of PEMF therapy in reducing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms using a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model. PEMF, was tested at two frequencies (10 Hz and 75 Hz) on paw inflammation in mice. Results showed that 10 Hz PEMF significantly reduced inflammation, cartilage destruction, and arthritis symptoms.

Histological analysis revealed that PEMF-treated mice showed reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells into tissues, abnormal tissue growth eroding cartilage and bone, and evidence of bone erosion. Proteins in the blood that help regulate immune responses and inflammation showed reduced IL-1β, though other markers like IL-6 and TNF-α were unaffected. However, tissue levels of these cytokines were significantly lower in the joints of treated mice, suggesting that PEMF reduces localized inflammation and preserves joint structure.

Overall, the study suggests that PEMF can help slow RA progression by protecting joint tissues and reducing inflammation, showing promise as a complementary therapy for RA management.

PubMed ID: 36674651

Tinnitus

In a study 58 patients from the Liverpool Tinnitus Association volunteered to take part in a double-blind placebo controlled trial. They applied pulsed electromagnetic stimulation, over the mastoid bone, to see if it caused an improvement in the level of tinnitus in long-standing tinnitus sufferers. At the end of just one week of treatment, each patient noted whether their tinnitus had completely disappeared, was improved, unchanged or made worse by the treatment 45% of the patients who completed the trial were improved by the active device.

PubMed ID: 8877185

White Blood Cell Count

The study investigated the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field exposure with different pulse parameters on white blood cells (WBC) and lymphocytes (LYM) in male BALB/c mice. The mice were divided into groups and exposed to PEMF at 100, 1000, and 10000 Hz, with a control group receiving no exposure. Following the exposure, blood samples were collected to measure WBC and LYM levels.

The results showed that PEMF exposure at 100 and 1000 Hz led to significant increases in WBC and LYM compared to the control group. However, no significant changes were observed in these parameters for the group exposed to 10000 Hz. These findings suggest that lower pulse PEMF exposure can induce significant increases in WBC and LYM, whereas higher pulse exposure does not produce the same effect. This indicates that the response of WBC and LYM to PEMF exposure may vary depending on the number of pulses administered.

PubMed ID: 31019981

Wound Healing

This study looked at how low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) help with wound healing, especially during a key phase of skin repair. The researchers tested this on human skin cells, known as dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), which are essential for healing wounds. The cells were exposed to PEMF frequencies of 10-12 Hz and 100 Hz.

They found that the 10-12 Hz PEMF boosted the activity of a gene related to cell growth, helping the skin cells multiply. When exposed to 100 Hz PEMF, the cells moved more quickly to cover the wound, and the structure inside the cells (actin fibers) started organizing earlier. Both frequencies helped the cells mature into myofibroblasts, a type of cell that plays a key role in closing and tightening the wound.

This study showed that PEMF therapy could speed up skin healing by helping skin cells grow, move, and mature faster.

PubMed ID: 38807301

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