Electromagnetic pulse therapy
Table of Contents
If you suffer from chronic pain and have tried many treatments without success, perhaps it’s time to give PEMF a try. PEMF stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy, which uses low-frequency magnetic fields to stimulate cells and nerves.
In terms of its effect on pain, PEMF uses a pulsed electromagnetic signal to depolarize nerve cells, which stimulates the release of neurotransmitters and improves communication between neurons. It also increases the permeability of cell membranes, making it easier for oxygen and nutrients to enter cell bodies.
It has been around since the 1970s, and throughout this time, it has been well-established as an effective physical therapy for treating conditions related to trauma, orthopedics, and rheumatology. The key aspect that made it so popular was its non-invasiveness. Compared to surgery or medication, PEMF is much safer for patients who are elderly or have certain health conditions that make conventional therapy impossible
How long does it take for PEMF therapy to work? According to numerous research studies, significant reductions in pain are typically observed between 10 days and 6 weeks of consistent use. That means you’ll need to commit to using the therapy for at least 10 days before you can expect to see noticeable results.
Multifaceted approach
PEMF’s effect on pain works on several different levels. One of the mechanisms of action involves adenosine. Adenosine receptors can be found on the surface of cells in various tissues throughout the body, including the nervous system. When you experience pain, the body reacts by producing adenosine, which activates the receptors and has a pain-relieving effect. The problem is that adenosine can be quickly broken down by enzymes in the body, which limits its effectiveness in managing pain.
This is where PEMF can come in handy: it taps into the body’s natural mechanism of using adenosine. Several studies have found that it increases the production of adenosine, as well as improves the functionality of adenosine receptors, and stimulates their activation.
The second effect of PEMF is lowering inflammation. Whenever you have an injury or infection, your body responds with redness, swelling, heat, and pain. These effects are symptoms of inflammation. When it occurs on a small scale, it is an important part of the healing process. The problem starts when you can’t stop the inflammation, as it then contributes to a range of health problems.
One of these is the induction of chronic pain. Inflammatory chemicals that are produced by the body in response to infection affect pain receptors in nerve cells, sensitizing them and making nerve cells overly responsive. Any painful stimuli could make them overreact, leading to the perception of pain even from normally non-painful signals. You may have experienced this effect yourself, feeling your body ache for no reason when you were sick.
Just as smaller amounts of inflammation can incite pain receptors, making them sensitive, long-term, chronic inflammation can directly injure the nerves. This is the case with peripheral neuropathy, a condition where the nerves carrying signals between parts of the body and the spinal cord become damaged. Apart from chronic pain, the effects include numbness and tingling in the affected areas.
PEMF stimulation lowers inflammation in two ways. On one hand, it cuts down the amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines. On the other, it stimulates the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines.
In simple terms, PEMF makes the body’s natural immune response more balanced, which reduces pain as a by-product.
The natural process of healing
People often say that medicine shouldn’t just treat the symptoms, but also address the root cause of the problem. Conventional therapies are often criticized for focusing too much on the effects of diseases rather than their causes.
It seems that PEMF therapy should satisfy even the most ardent of these critics. It doesn’t only affect the pain you perceive; it makes the wounds heal. Studies have shown that PEMF has an anti-inflammatory effect, reducing cytokine levels in the blood and helping the body shift from a state of chronic inflammation to a healing one. It also increases the body’s capacity to rebuild itself by stimulating the growth of new blood vessels and collagen. PEMF can even cause bone tissue to grow faster, which is especially useful in conditions like osteoporosis.
Let’s put it this way. Imagine that you have back pain and just pop a pill of ibuprofen. It will probably make you forget the pain for a few hours, but the condition of your back won’t change a bit. Addressing the same back pain with PEMF therapy won’t have an effect as immediate as a painkiller. It requires regular use, and as we mentioned before, it takes at least 10 days for the effects to kick in if you’ve just started. But it will address the pain on all levels, both making you feel better and helping your back to recuperate.
A better alternative
This leads us to discuss a big social issue: we take way too many pain medicines. This problem is most visible in the USA, which faces a serious opioid addiction epidemic. In 2015 alone, it claimed the lives of more than 55.000 people who overdosed the opioid painkillers.
The profile of many opioid users is different from what you might expect. These are often not drug addicts who took a wrong turn in their life, but people who have been prescribed opioids without being given any other alternative. For instance, a big part of spine surgeries – numbers range from 19 % to 46% end with chronic intractable pain. Due to the inability of the medical community to effectively manage such pain, the number of opioid-addicted subcultures of post-operative patients has been growing since the 1990s.
Some serious alternative treatments are needed, and PEMF gained interest from medical researchers as a possible solution. Conducted studies have shown quite remarkable results: the respondents who used PEMF therapy noted between 44% and 55% reduction in pain. Half of them managed to cut down their opioid consumption and the majority (67%) expressed that their well-being improved since they started the treatment.
No matter what kind of pain you suffer from, your condition can probably benefit a lot from PEMF therapy. It‘s not just about making you feel less pain: the treatment addresses the core of the problem, stimulating your body’s natural mechanisms of healing. If you want to give it a try, check out any of Omnipemf’s devices. All of them come with programs designed for pain treatment.
References:
Chen, Duan, X., Xing, F., Liu, G., Gong, M., Li, L., Chen, R., & Xiang, Z. (2019). Effects of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on pain, stiffness, and physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 51(11), 821–827. https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2613
Yang, He, H., Ye, W., Perry, T. A., & He, C. (2020). Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy on Pain, Stiffness, Physical Function, and Quality of Life in Patients With Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials. Physical Therapy, 100(7), 1118–1131. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzaa054
Sharon. (2019). Utilizing Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy (Diapulse®) for Drug-Free Pain Management to Eliminate Reliance on Opioids for Non-Malignant Chronic Pain: A Literature Review and Proposal for Pilot Study. Clinical Journal of Nursing Care and Practice, 3(1), 27–34. https://doi.org/10.29328/journal.cjncp.1001013
Andrade, Duarte, H., Pereira, R., Lopes, I., Pereira, H., Rocha, R., & Espregueira-Mendes, J. (2016). Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy effectiveness in low back pain: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Porto Biomedical Journal, 1(5), 156–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbj.2016.09.001
Luigi, & Tiziano, P. (2020). Mechanisms of Action And Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMF) in Medicine. Journal of Medical Research and Surgery, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.52916/jmrs204033
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NeoRhythm has not been evaluated by the FDA. These products do not claim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical conditions. Always consult your medical doctor regarding any health concerns.