Key Takeaways
- PEMF is an acronym for “Pulsed Electromagnetic Field.”
- PEMF therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses electromagnetic pulses on targeted areas of living tissue over a short duration of time.
- By altering the electrical activity of cells, PEMF therapy can help increase the user’s overall health by stimulating cellular repair, decreasing inflammation, and relieving pain for the user.
What Is PEMF Therapy?
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy is a form of electromagnetic-based treatment that has been growing in popularity ever since the FDA approved it for various uses back in 1979. With the potential to minimize pain and speed up healing and other organic bodily processes, it could be an important part of your medical treatment plan.
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1.How PEMF Therapy Works
PEMF therapy uses various devices, including electronic mats, coils, and wearables, to apply electromagnetic pulses to a targeted part of the body. In turn, it helps control cellular activity and facilitates healing by stimulating the cells.
According to a research-heavy medical review from 2019, controlled, low-frequency electromagnetic field therapies like PEMF can:
- Incite cell proliferation
- Alter the membrane structure of a cell
- Tweak the function of a cell
- Make changes to the cell’s nucleic acids
- Spark protein phosphorylation
- Increase adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production
Through these processes, PEMF therapy can enhance cellular function and accelerate the healing process.
2. Benefits Of PEMF Therapy
Strong candidates for PEMF therapy have the potential to achieve a range of benefits that can help with their health concerns. The following results are the most commonly seen in PEMF studies.
Pain Relief
By improving circulation and stimulating cellular repair, PEMF therapy helps some patients reduce acute and chronic pain. During a 2022 meta-analysis that tested PEMF, many long-term osteoarthritis sufferers reported decreased pain and stiffness following their treatment, according to the WOMAC and VAS pain scales.
Improved Sleep
PEMF therapy helps release endorphins and modulate levels of neurotransmitters like adenosine, which promotes better sleep patterns and general restfulness. Less adenosine receptor activity increases alertness. Therefore, adenosine receptor stimulation from PEMF can be a recipe for good sleep.
Inflammation Reduction
PEMF therapy alters the pathways of cellular signals, causing them to deliver less pro-inflammatory molecules, such as prostaglandins and cytokines. PEMF therapy generates more blood flow to the inflamed area by supporting microcirculation and vasodilation, removing inflammatory mediators and toxins.
Mental Clarity and Focus
In addition to its primary uses of mitigating joint pain and facilitating post-surgical recovery, PEMF therapy may also be used to strengthen mental clarity and focus. By balancing neurotransmitters, PEMF therapy can improve cognitive function and concentration.
Enhanced Recovery
PEMF therapy can potentially expedite the body’s natural healing process and help repair tissue by promoting blood flow. PEMF therapy is often used after high-level operations like cesarian section births or knee surgery to help with post-surgical recovery.
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3. PEMF Therapy Applications
With the numerous benefits mentioned above, PEMF treatments have become an increasingly popular type of alternative therapy. Qualified medical professionals have used PEMF therapy for the following applications.
Medical treatments
The most common application of PEMF therapy is to help treat or provide relief for an underlying medical issue. PEMF therapy provides benefits for individuals with some of the following ailments:
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- Bone fractures – PEMF therapy has been known to incite extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis, which aids in bone and cartilage repair.
- Osteoarthritis – PEMF therapy can offer pain reduction and extended mobility in osteoarthritis sufferers, especially ones with knee osteoarthritis.
- Depression – During a 2020 study, some participants with treatment-resistant depression experienced mitigated symptoms after trying transcranial PEMF therapy over an eight-week period.
- Postoperative pain – PEMF therapy has the potential to help repair tissue and expedite recoveries after serious surgeries. It could even speed up the hip replacement surgery recovery timeline.
- Musculoskeletal pain – By improving blood flow and facilitating natural bodily functions like endochondral ossification, PEMF therapy can reduce musculoskeletal pain.
Sports performance enhancement
In the right setting, PEMF therapy could heighten an individual’s sports performance. With regular PEMF use, an athlete could experience the following benefits:
- Enhanced Muscle Function – PEMF therapy can promote ideal muscle function by facilitating oxygenation and the delivery of nutrients through enhanced blood flow. With optimal levels of nutrients and oxygen, muscle tissue can grow stronger and hold steady endurance.
- Injury Prevention – PEMF therapy can improve flexibility and minimize tears and pulls in the targeted area by reducing inflammation and stiffness.
General wellness
PEMF is not only beneficial for people who are experiencing a medical concern or issue—it can be a great option for people looking to build upon their general wellness. Many medical practices use PEMF to help their patients with the following journeys:
- Detoxification – PEMF can aid in the natural detoxification process on a cellular level by increasing a cell’s oxygen-carrying capacity.
- Better sleep – PEMF therapy can relieve tension and stress by relaxing targeted muscles, potentially giving the user a better rest experience and allowing them to sleep soundly.
- Increasing energy – By sparking cellular energy production, targeted areas can feel more energized, reducing fatigue overall.
4. Is PEMF Therapy Safe?
Yes, in 1979, the FDA approved PEMF therapy for multiple uses. Occasionally, some users report nausea, dizziness, or headaches, but when performed by a qualified medical professional, PEMF therapy is a low-risk procedure with few safety concerns.
Still, it is best to avoid PEMF therapy if any of the contraindications apply to you.
Do not use PEMF therapy if you:
- Have a pacemaker
- Are pregnant
- Have a bleeding condition
- Are undergoing menstrual bleeding
- Have a high fever
- Have tumors
- Have a severe septic condition
- Have active tuberculosis
- Have a mycotic disease in the targeted area
- Have a nerve-related seizure disorder
- Are experiencing hyperfunction of the thyroid gland
- Are experiencing hyperfunction of the adrenal glands
- Have myasthenia gravis
- Have psychosis
- Have diseases of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland
- Have unknown pains
When in doubt, consult a medical professional about using PEMF therapy for health and pain management.
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5. How to Access PEMF Therapy
The market and demand for PEMF grow daily due to its potential health benefits. Because of the constant development in this portion of the medical field, PEMF therapy can look very different for everyone. The most common ways to access PEMF therapy include at-home devices and professional treatment at a clinic.
Devices for Home Use
Although PEMF therapy is usually more effective in a controlled setting with a trained medical professional, at-home options are available. Some at-home users simply lay on a specialized electric mat to target large portions of their body simultaneously, while others use coils or small devices, delivering PEMF to a select area.
Some of the most prevalent PEMF-capable body mats for at-home therapy are:
- Grooni Earthing PEMF Infrared Therapy Mat Pro
- OMI Full Body Mat
- OMI Minimat
- Healthy Wave Pro Multi-Wave 5 Therapy Far Infrared PEMF Mat
Meanwhile, PEMF-Capable Portable Devices include:
- Qi Coil Nano
- NEO Rhythm
- MiraMate Mini Magic Portable PEMF Device
It is best to receive PEMF therapy from a qualified medical professional who understands which frequencies and settings work best for your specific goals and conditions. Plus, top-of-the-line PEMF devices can be very costly, reaching over $5,000. So, to get the best care, check with your healthcare provider for PEMF therapy availability.
Professional Treatment Options
Professionally-led PEMF therapy is ideal for achieving more efficacy. Medically trained individuals have a better understanding of the body’s muscular makeup and how low-frequency electricity can alter its function. Some of the benefits of professional treatment are:
- Personalization – Healthcare professionals can help pin down the causes of your pain before targeting that area with PEMF in an attempt to give you maximum relief.
- Safety – Healthcare professionals have a better understanding of the contraindications that may dissuade people from using PEMF therapy. By being medically surveyed, you can know if PEMF is the right therapy for you.
- Cost-Friendly – Healthcare providers have the financial means to afford the best PEMF equipment, offering it to numerous patients as needed. Using a professional’s cutting-edge technology is better than settling for a cheaper, less effective at-home device.
Find Relief Through PEMF Therapy
With its reliance on electromagnetic pulses, PEMF therapy has been able to stimulate cellular activity and help many individuals’ healing processes. It has an extensive list of benefits, including reduced inflammation, pain relief, mental clarity, and better sleep. This treatment has been applauded for its use in wellness practices, medical treatments, and sports performance enhancement.
In addition to traditional operations like hip surgeries, the Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale offers alternative therapies such as PEMF and ARPWave with the intent of treating joint pain and promoting a quick recovery after an injury or surgical procedure. With our medical expertise, we can help build the perfect treatment plan to rid you of pain and augment your life.
Schedule a consultation with us today to discover a personalized treatment plan for your hip problems so you can get back to pain-free running!
