A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use

Brett Wade

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13

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A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use

Brett Wade

Published in American Journal of Health Research (Volume 1, Issue 3)

Received: 20 September 2013 Accepted: Published: 20 October 2013

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Abstract

Delivery of health care demands evidence-based practice. Evidence-based practice helps to ensure that all facets of health care delivery are subject to a higher level of accountability. This helps to assure that the patient is receiving treatment that has some proof of efficacy. In recent years, physiotherapy practice has been influenced by a swell of research which, in many cases, supports current practice and, in some cases, influences change of practice. Despite the fact that there is a significant increase in the numbers of clinical trials and reviews in Physiotherapy, including research in electromagnetic modalities and mechanical modalities, it is not uncommon for a practitioner to feel at a loss to answer, “Exactly how does this treatment work?” This paper will review the mechanisms of action of the most common electromagnetic modalities and provide a rationale as to why “pulsed” fields seem to produce more significant effects compared with continuous applications. It will be shown that significant tissue healing effects, particularly with the modality PEMF, are likely the result of increased activity in non-excitable cells. The reputation of electromagnetic modalities has suffered in recent years, likely due to a lack of understanding of mechanisms for action. In the literature, the understanding in this area has made considerable progress over the past ten years. This review will explain the science at a cellular level and suggest the potential mechanisms for action for the modalities with specific focus on PEMF.

Published in	American Journal of Health Research (Volume 1, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13
Page(s)	51-55
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields, Physiotherapy, Modalities, Mechanism of Action

References

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Brett Wade. (2013). A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use. American Journal of Health Research, 1(3), 51-55. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13

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ACS Style

Brett Wade. A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use. Am. J. Health Res. 2013, 1(3), 51-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13

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AMA Style

Brett Wade. A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use. Am J Health Res. 2013;1(3):51-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13,
  author = {Brett Wade},
  title = {A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use},
  journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
  volume = {1},
  number = {3},
  pages = {51-55},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20130103.13},
  abstract = {Delivery of health care demands evidence-based practice. Evidence-based practice helps to ensure that all facets of health care delivery are subject to a higher level of accountability. This helps to assure that the patient is receiving treatment that has some proof of efficacy. In recent years, physiotherapy practice has been influenced by a swell of research which, in many cases, supports current practice and, in some cases, influences change of practice. Despite the fact that there is a significant increase in the numbers of clinical trials and reviews in Physiotherapy, including research in electromagnetic modalities and mechanical modalities, it is not uncommon for a practitioner to feel at a loss to answer, “Exactly how does this treatment work?” This paper will review the mechanisms of action of the most common electromagnetic modalities and provide a rationale as to why “pulsed” fields seem to produce more significant effects compared with continuous applications.  It will be shown that significant tissue healing effects, particularly with the modality PEMF, are likely the result of increased activity in non-excitable cells. The reputation of electromagnetic modalities has suffered in recent years, likely due to a lack of understanding of mechanisms for action. In the literature, the understanding in this area has made considerable progress over the past ten years.  This review will explain the science at a cellular level and suggest the potential mechanisms for action for the modalities with specific focus on PEMF.},
 year = {2013}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use
AU  - Brett Wade
Y1  - 2013/10/20
PY  - 2013
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VL  - 1
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Brett Wade

Therapist Assistant Program, Okanagan College, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Brett Wade. (2013). A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use. American Journal of Health Research, 1(3), 51-55. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13

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ACS Style

Brett Wade. A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use. Am. J. Health Res. 2013, 1(3), 51-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13

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AMA Style

Brett Wade. A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use. Am J Health Res. 2013;1(3):51-55. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13,
  author = {Brett Wade},
  title = {A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use},
  journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
  volume = {1},
  number = {3},
  pages = {51-55},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20130103.13},
  abstract = {Delivery of health care demands evidence-based practice. Evidence-based practice helps to ensure that all facets of health care delivery are subject to a higher level of accountability. This helps to assure that the patient is receiving treatment that has some proof of efficacy. In recent years, physiotherapy practice has been influenced by a swell of research which, in many cases, supports current practice and, in some cases, influences change of practice. Despite the fact that there is a significant increase in the numbers of clinical trials and reviews in Physiotherapy, including research in electromagnetic modalities and mechanical modalities, it is not uncommon for a practitioner to feel at a loss to answer, “Exactly how does this treatment work?” This paper will review the mechanisms of action of the most common electromagnetic modalities and provide a rationale as to why “pulsed” fields seem to produce more significant effects compared with continuous applications.  It will be shown that significant tissue healing effects, particularly with the modality PEMF, are likely the result of increased activity in non-excitable cells. The reputation of electromagnetic modalities has suffered in recent years, likely due to a lack of understanding of mechanisms for action. In the literature, the understanding in this area has made considerable progress over the past ten years.  This review will explain the science at a cellular level and suggest the potential mechanisms for action for the modalities with specific focus on PEMF.},
 year = {2013}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Review of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Mechanisms at a Cellular Level: A Rationale for Clinical Use
AU  - Brett Wade
Y1  - 2013/10/20
PY  - 2013
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13
T2  - American Journal of Health Research
JF  - American Journal of Health Research
JO  - American Journal of Health Research
SP  - 51
EP  - 55
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8796
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20130103.13
AB  - Delivery of health care demands evidence-based practice. Evidence-based practice helps to ensure that all facets of health care delivery are subject to a higher level of accountability. This helps to assure that the patient is receiving treatment that has some proof of efficacy. In recent years, physiotherapy practice has been influenced by a swell of research which, in many cases, supports current practice and, in some cases, influences change of practice. Despite the fact that there is a significant increase in the numbers of clinical trials and reviews in Physiotherapy, including research in electromagnetic modalities and mechanical modalities, it is not uncommon for a practitioner to feel at a loss to answer, “Exactly how does this treatment work?” This paper will review the mechanisms of action of the most common electromagnetic modalities and provide a rationale as to why “pulsed” fields seem to produce more significant effects compared with continuous applications.  It will be shown that significant tissue healing effects, particularly with the modality PEMF, are likely the result of increased activity in non-excitable cells. The reputation of electromagnetic modalities has suffered in recent years, likely due to a lack of understanding of mechanisms for action. In the literature, the understanding in this area has made considerable progress over the past ten years.  This review will explain the science at a cellular level and suggest the potential mechanisms for action for the modalities with specific focus on PEMF.
VL  - 1
IS  - 3
ER  -

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