A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial using a low-frequency magnetic field in the treatment of musculoskeletal chronic pain.
Exposure to a specific pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) has been shown to produce analgesic (antinociceptive) effects in many organisms. In a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial, patients with either chronic generalized pain from fibromyalgia (FM) or chronic localized musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain were exposed to a PEMF (400 microT) through a portable device fitted to their head during twice-daily 40 min treatments over seven days. The effect of this PEMF on pain reduction was recorded using a visual analogue scale. A differential effect of PEMF over sham treatment was noticed in patients with FM, which approached statistical significance (P=0.06) despite low numbers (n=17); this effect was not evident in those without FM (P=0.93; n=15). PEMF may be a novel, safe and effective therapeutic tool for use in at least certain subsets of patients with chronic, nonmalignant pain. Clearly, however, a larger randomized, double-blind clinical trial with just FM patients is warranted.
Thomas
Alex W
AW
Bioelectromagnetics, Imaging Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. athomas@lawsonimaging.ca
Graham
Karissa
K
Prato
Frank S
FS
McKay
Julia
J
Forster
Patricia Morley
PM
Moulin
Dwight E
DE
Chari
Sesh
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D010919:Placebos; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D010919:Placebos