Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy

It is not difficult to find articles and videos about treatment with magnetic fields thanks to the Internet, but, perhaps, more contradictory information cannot be found. Some sources equate Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy with alternative medicine, others speak of it as a kind of physiotherapy.
What opinion can you trust? To understand this issue, let's try to turn to the facts.

The influence of a magnetic field on a person is determined by the laws of physics. However, the impact on a living being has its own characteristics. It takes place at different levels of organization of the organism: from atomic-molecular to organ-tissue. Therefore, it is studied not only by physicians and biologists, but also by biochemists and biophysicists. Experts in different fields have different answers to the question of how a magnetic field induces a biological response. Summarizing their answers, it can be argued that the mechanism of action of a magnetic field is based on its ability to:

1. direct electric currents in the exposure area;
2. act on cations, in particular, on Ca 2+ ions, which act as a leading mediator in the bioeffects of magnetic fields;
3. to influence the chemical reactions proceeding in biosystems by the free radical mechanism;
4. change the quasicrystalline structure and physicochemical properties of intracellular water.

What are the therapeutic effects of the unique capabilities of the magnetic field?

1. Pulsed magnetic field improves blood microcirculation. Under its influence, there is an acceleration of capillary blood flow and an increase in vascular blood filling. In the treatment of diseases of the joints and the spine, this makes it possible to improve the supply of nutrients to the organs and promptly remove metabolic products from them, i.e. create conditions for the body in which it can actively resist disease.
2. The magnetic field is capable of increasing vascular and epithelial permeability, which means accelerating the absorption of edema and the absorption of medicinal substances in the form of ointments.
3. The magnetic field can relieve pain. Since pain signals transmitted along nerves are electrical signals, they can be blocked using an electromagnetic field with the desired parameters.
4. The anti-inflammatory effect of the magnetic field also contributes to the relief of pain syndrome, because inflammation is the main cause of pain. Exposure to a magnetic field can remove inflammation by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins, improving microcirculation and releasing anti-inflammatory hormones into the blood.
5. Finally, the magnetic field is able to improve regeneration. For example, if you use magnetotherapy for a fracture, more intensive and less time-consuming bone formation is possible. And when treating osteoarthritis with a magnetic field, the synthesis of the cellular matrix of cartilage is activated, which means that the progression of the disease slows down. In this case, exposure to a magnetic field, as a rule, does not cause unpleasant sensations, an increase in temperature and skin irritation. Usually it is well tolerated even by debilitated patients and elderly patients suffering from a mass of concomitant diseases. Therefore, the use of magnetotherapy can be recommended even in cases where other physiotherapy is contraindicated.