title: Effect of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on experimental pain: A double-blind, randomized study in healthy young adults.
abstract: Previous studies suggested that pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy can decrease pain. To date, however, it remains difficult to determine whether the analgesic effect observed in patients are attributable to a direct effect of PEMF on pain or to an indirect effect of PEMF on inflammation and healing. In the present study, we used an experimental pain paradigm to evaluate the direct effect of PEMF on pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, and temporal summation of pain. Twenty-four healthy subjects (mean age 22 ± 2 years; 9 males) participated in the experiment. Both real and sham PEMF were administered to every participant using a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design. For each visit, PEMF was applied for 10 minutes on the right forearm using a portable device. Experimental pain was evoked before (baseline) and after PEMF with a 9 cm(2) Pelletier-type thermode, applied on the right forearm (120 s stimulation; temperature individually adjusted to produce moderate baseline pain). Pain intensity and unpleasantness were evaluated using a 0-100 numerical pain rating scale. Temporal summation was evaluated by comparing pain intensity ratings obtained at the end of tonic nociceptive stimulation (120 s) with pain intensity ratings obtained after 60 s of stimulation. When compared to baseline, there was no change in pain intensity and unpleasantness following the application of real or sham PEMF. PEMF did not affect temporal summation. The present observations suggest that PEMF does not directly influence heat pain perception in healthy individuals.
authors.affiliation: a École de réadaptation de l'Université de Sherbrooke , Sherbrooke , Canada.|b Clinique de physiothérapie Physio Atlas , Sherbrooke , Canada.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beaulieu
authors.affiliation: a École de réadaptation de l'Université de Sherbrooke , Sherbrooke , Canada.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beland
authors.affiliation: a École de réadaptation de l'Université de Sherbrooke , Sherbrooke , Canada.
authors.forename: Marilee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinard
authors.affiliation: c Centre et services de conditionnement cellulaires , Beloeil , Canada.
authors.forename: Guilène
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Handfield
authors.affiliation: c Centre et services de conditionnement cellulaires , Beloeil , Canada.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Handfield
authors.affiliation: a École de réadaptation de l'Université de Sherbrooke , Sherbrooke , Canada.|d Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke , Sherbrooke , Canada.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goffaux
authors.affiliation: a École de réadaptation de l'Université de Sherbrooke , Sherbrooke , Canada.|e Centre de recherche sur le vieillissement , Centre de santé et de services sociaux - Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Sherbrooke , Sherbrooke , Canada.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Corriveau
authors.affiliation: a École de réadaptation de l'Université de Sherbrooke , Sherbrooke , Canada.|b Clinique de physiothérapie Physio Atlas , Sherbrooke , Canada.|e Centre de recherche sur le vieillissement , Centre de santé et de services sociaux - Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Sherbrooke , Sherbrooke , Canada.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Léonard
mesh_terms: D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Experimental pain; pain; physical therapy; pulsed electromagnetic field therapy; rehabilitation; temporal summation; thermode