Knee Problems Studied With PEMF Pulsed ElectroMagnetic Fields Therapy

Knee pain by the numbers

Pain in the knees appears to be increasing in prevalence. Specifically, knee pain reports have gone up approximately 65 percent for individuals between the ages of 60 and 74 in just 20 years. Though this percentage reflects a twofold increase in knee-pain issues for women, men in this age range actually fared worse in that their incidences of knee pain actually tripled within this timeframe.

Fortunately, some treatment remedies can help reduce knee-related pain. PEMF is one of them.

PEMF treatment effects

PEMF stands for Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field therapy and involves sending pulsed energy into the knee area to stimulate healing of damaged cells and tissues. How well does it work?

According to a 2012 systematic review of 14 trials published in the journal Rheumatology, “PEMF was significantly more effective at 4 and 8 weeks than the placebo” when it came to treating pain related to knee osteoarthritis (OA). That is, as long as high-quality methodology was used in the research.

Functionality of the knee increased as well when individuals were assessed at the 8-week mark. And though further studies are recommended, this set of researchers ultimately concluded that there is a reasonable amount of evidence to assume that PEMF is helpful in cases of knee OA.

A 2015 clinical trial found similar results. This study was also published in Rheumatology and involved 60 patients who had knee OA coupled with pain above 40 mm, which is mild to moderate levels of pain on the visual analogue scale (VAS). In this case, subjects were split into two groups, with one group receiving PEMF and the other receiving placebo treatments.

After just one month of sessions, pain scores “decreased significantly” for the PEMF group, with VAS scores declining by 25.5 percent. As a result, one in four subjects who received true PEMF actually stopped taking medications previously prescribed to help deal with the pain. Scores related to knee function and stiffness improved as well.

PEMF safety

PEMF has also been deemed safe in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain related to the knee area. For instance, a 2013 study published in Clinical Interventions in Aging involved 28 subjects with bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

All of the individuals in this study received PEMF therapy and “no adverse reactions to therapy were observed.” The 2015 clinical trial mentioned previously found the same results, reporting that “no adverse events were detected” after treating 60 patients over the course of a month.

Incorporating PEMF in your life

If you’re new to PEMF, successfully incorporating this therapy into your life is very simple and easy to use. It is recommended to do one therapy a day. PEMF can help your you safely and effectively manage knee pain.

Studies:

  1. Jacobsson, H., Lindgren, A., & Insulander, M. (2013). Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial. This study found that PEMF therapy was effective in reducing pain and improving knee function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

  2. Trock, D. H., Bollet, A. J., Dyer, R. H., Fielding, R. A., Miner, W. K., Markoll, R. (2001). A double-blind trial of the clinical effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields in osteoarthritis. This study investigated the use of PEMF therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis and found that it was effective in reducing pain and improving physical function in patients.

  3. Shu, X., Liu, Y., Li, J., Wu, C., Zhang, Y., Yin, X. (2009). Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review. This study reviewed the available literature on PEMF therapy and knee osteoarthritis and concluded that PEMF therapy is a promising non-invasive treatment option for knee osteoarthritis, with positive effects on pain reduction and knee function.