Search Results (3)

Background and Objective: Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) and extracorporeal magnetotransduction therapy (EMTT) have shown promising results in various musculoskeletal disorders; however, substantial heterogeneity in application parameters has hindered the establishment of clear relationships between electromagnetic dosing and clinical response. This systematic review aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of PEMF and EMTT therapies for treating chronic musculoskeletal injuries in adults, based on research from 2015 to 2026. By analyzing how specific dosage parameters (such as intensity, frequency, and duration) influence clinical results, the study seeks to establish standardized, evidence-based guidelines for electromagnetic treatment prescriptions. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines and prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251059359). A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and ScienceDirect for the 2015–2025 period. Randomized clinical trials, quasi-experimental studies, and case reports were included. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were performed by two independent reviewers using RoB 2, ROBINS-I, and Joanna Briggs Institute checklists. Results were synthesized narratively following SWiM (Synthesis Without Meta-analysis) recommendations. Results: Twenty-eight studies (1060 participants) were included. A dosimetric dichotomy emerged: high-intensity protocols with rapid field variation rates (e.g., EMTT > 60 kT/s) were consistently associated with robust improvements in structural and mechanically driven pathologies. Conversely, low-intensity protocols (e.g., <5 mT) often yielded results indistinguishable from placebo or active controls, particularly in nociplastic pain conditions. Quantitative analysis indicated that in structural pathologies, functional gains were maintained or amplified post-treatment, whereas nociplastic conditions showed potential symptom recurrence. No serious adverse events were reported, confirming a favorable safety profile. Conclusions: PEMF and EMTT are promising adjunctive therapies for musculoskeletal disorders, with efficacy appearing sensitive to electromagnetic dosimetry. However, significant methodological heterogeneity and the use of combination therapies limit these findings to exploratory trends. The lack of standardized safety reporting and technical parameters (e.g., waveform, dB/dt) underscores a critical translational gap. Future research must prioritize rigorous, standardized randomized controlled trials to establish definitive, evidence-based therapeutic recommendations. Full article

Extracorporeal magnetotransduction therapy (EMTT) is a high-energy electromagnetic modality that delivers field strengths of 80–150 mT, effective transduction power > 60 kT/s, and dual-frequency architecture with pulse repetition near 8 Hz and oscillations of 100–300 kHz. This prospective pilot study evaluated pain and functional outcomes in patients with symptomatic midfoot osteoarthritis (OA). Eight patients (13 feet; five bilateral and three unilateral cases) with radiographic Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) grade 3 or 4 midfoot OA received eight EMTT sessions over four weeks. Outcomes were measured at baseline, after the eighth treatment at four weeks, and at 3-month and 6-month follow-up using the 0–10 Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure—Activities of Daily Living (FAAM-ADL). VAS demonstrated a significant overall effect of time (F(3,36) = 3.93, p = 0.016), with mean scores decreasing from 4.15 ± 1.63 at baseline to 2.62 ± 1.98 at 3 months and 3.00 ± 2.08 at 6 months. Bonferroni-adjusted baseline-to-follow-up contrasts approached significance at 3 months (p = 0.067) and were not significant at 6 months (p = 0.150). FAAM-ADL improved significantly over time (F(3,30) = 13.76, p < 0.001), increasing from 61.7% ± 9.9% at baseline to 81.8% ± 11.1% at 6 months. No treatment-related adverse events were observed; one participant proceeded to surgery by 6 months and was classified as a treatment failure. These preliminary findings suggest that EMTT is safe and may provide clinically meaningful functional improvement in selected patients with midfoot OA; larger sham-controlled trials are needed. Full article

Background: Electromagnetic field therapy is gaining attention for its potential in treating bone disorders, with Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Therapy (EMTT) emerging as an innovative approach. EMTT offers a higher oscillation frequency and magnetic field strength compared to traditional Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy, showing promise in enhancing fracture healing and non-union recovery. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. Results: This study demonstrates that EMTT significantly enhances osteoblast bone formation at multiple levels, from gene expression to extracellular matrix mineralization. Key osteoblastogenesis regulators, including SP7 and RUNX2, and bone-related genes such as COL1A1, ALPL, and BGLAP, were upregulated, with expression levels surpassing those of the control group by over sevenfold (p < 0.001). Enhanced collagen synthesis and mineralization were confirmed by von Kossa and Alizarin Red staining, indicating increased calcium and phosphate deposition. Additionally, calcium imaging revealed heightened calcium influx, suggesting a cellular mechanism for EMTT’s osteogenic effects. Importantly, EMTT did not compromise cell viability, as confirmed by live/dead staining and WST-1 assays. Conclusion: This study is the first to show that EMTT can enhance all phases of osteoblastogenesis and improve the production of critical mineralization components, offering potential clinical applications in accelerating fracture healing, treating osteonecrosis, and enhancing implant osseointegration. Full article