title: Prevention of osteoporosis by pulsed electromagnetic fields.
abstract: Using an animal model, we examined the use of pulsed electromagnetic fields, induced at a physiological frequency and intensity, to prevent the osteoporosis that is concomitant with disuse. By protecting the left ulnae of turkeys from functional loading, we noted a loss of bone of 13.0 per cent compared with the intact contralateral control ulnae over an eight-week experimental period. Using a treatment regimen of one hour per day of pulsed electromagnetic fields, we observed an osteogenic dose-response to induced electrical power, with a maximum osteogenic effect between 0.01 and 0.04 tesla per second. Pulse power levels of more or less than these levels were less effective. The maximum osteogenic response was obtained by a decrease in the level of intracortical remodeling, inhibition of endosteal resorption, and stimulation of both periosteal and endosteal new-bone formation. These data suggest that short daily periods of exposure to appropriate electromagnetic fields can beneficially influence the behavior of the cell populations that are responsible for bone-remodeling, and that there is an effective window of induced electrical power in which bone mass can be controlled in the absence of mechanical loading.
authors.affiliation: Musculo-Skeletal Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedics, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794.
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: McLeod
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Lanyon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy; D008297:Male; D010012:Osteogenesis; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010027:Osteotomy; D013997:Time Factors; D014422:Turkeys; D014457:Ulna / Q000601:surgery