title: Non-invasive electromagnetic field therapy produces rapid and substantial pain reduction in early knee osteoarthritis: a randomized double-blind pilot study.
abstract: This study examined whether a non-thermal, non-invasive, pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF), known to modulate the calmodulin (CaM)-dependent nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling pathway, could reduce pain in early knee OA. This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot clinical study enrolled 34 patients. Patient selection required initial VAS ≥4, 2 h of standing activity per day, and no recent interventions such as cortisone injections or surgery. Results showed VAS pain score decreased in the active cohort by 50 ± 11% versus baseline starting at day 1 and persisting to day 42 (P < 0.001). There was no significant decrease in VAS versus baseline at any time point in the sham cohort (P = 0.227). The overall decrease in mean VAS score for the active cohort was nearly threefold that of the sham cohort (P < 0.001). The results suggest that non-thermal, non-invasive PEMF therapy can have a significant and rapid impact on pain from early knee OA and that larger clinical trials are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, CFP 644, 2799 West Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202, USA. fnelson1@hfhs.org
authors.forename: Fred R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Raimond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zvirbulis
authors.forename: Arthur A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Pilla
mesh_terms: D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome