title: Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on peripheral blood circulation in people with diabetes: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Cutaneous blood flow provides nourishment that plays an essential role in maintaining skin health. We examined the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) on cutaneous circulation of dorsal feet. Twenty-two patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and 21 healthy control subjects were randomly allocated to receive either PEMFs or sham PEMFs (0.5 mT, 12 Hz, 30 min). Blood flow velocity and diameter of the small vein were examined by using ultrasound biomicroscopy; also, microcirculation at skin over the base of the 1st metatarsal bone (Flux1) and distal 1st phalange (Flux2) was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry before and after intervention. Results indicated that PEMFs produced significantly greater changes in blood flow velocity of the smallest observable vein than did sham PEMFs (both P < 0.05) in both types of subjects. However, no significant difference was found in changes of vein diameter, nor in Flux1 and Flux2, between PEMFs and sham PEMFs groups in subjects with or without DM. We hypothesized that PEMFs would increase blood flow velocity of the smallest observable vein in people with or without DM. Bioelectromagnetics. 37:290-297, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Jiahui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Rachel Lai-Chu
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Yongping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Gladys Lai-Ying
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Cheing
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000528:radiation effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014680:Veins / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects
keywords: PEMFs; foot and ankle; human; interventions; rehabilitation