title: Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy promotes healing and microcirculation of chronic diabetic foot ulcers: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy on promoting the healing and microcirculation of chronic diabetic foot ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on a homogenous subset of chronic diabetic foot ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital and university.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen subjects (7 in the PEMF group and 6 in the control group) diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and had unsatisfactory healing of ulcer(s) in the preceding 4 weeks were recruited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were randomly allocated to receive either active PEMF therapy (duration: 60 minutes; frequency: 12 Hz; intensity: 12 Gauss) or nonactive PEMF for 14 sessions within 3 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessment on wound closure, wound depth, and microcirculation were performed at the baseline, end of the treatment period, and 1-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By the end of the treatment period, there was an 18% decrease in wound size in the active PEMF group as compared with a 10% decrease in the control group. The PEMF group demonstrated significant cumulative increase in cutaneous capillary blood velocity (by 28%) and 14% increase in capillary diameter. In contrast, the control group showed a decrease in both capillary blood velocity and diameter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, PEMF therapy seemed to accelerate wound healing and improve microcirculation.
authors.affiliation: Rachel Lai-Chu Kwan, MPhil, is a PhD candidate, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Wing-Cheung Wong, MBBS, is the Chief of Service and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Kwong Wah Hospital; Siu-Leung Yip, MMedSc, is a Resident, Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Kwong Wah Hospital; Ka-Lun Chan, MChS, is the Podiatrist-in-Charge, Department of Podiatry, Kwong Wah Hospital; Yong-Ping Zheng, PhD, is the Head and Professor, Interdisciplinary Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; and Gladys Lai-Ying Cheing, PhD, is Professor and Associate Head, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; all in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. The authors have disclosed they have no financial relationships related to this article. Acknowledgment: This project was supported by the General Research Fund provided by the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong SAR Government (grants PolyU 5128/08E and PolyU 5600/11M). Submitted December 16, 2013; accepted in revised form March 4, 2014.
authors.forename: Rachel Lai-Chu
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.forename: Wing-Cheung
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Siu-Leung
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Ka-Lun
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Yong-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Gladys Lai-Ying
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Cheing
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing