Pulsed Signal TherapyR for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions: a millennium paradigm

The use of an alternating magnetic field in the resorption of postoperative joint effusion following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A randomized double-blind controlled trial

CONTEXT

There are no scientific reports unambiguously describing the efficacy of alternating magnetic field therapy in patients after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in the early postoperative period.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of using an alternating magnetic field in the resorption of postoperative joint effusion in patients after ACL reconstruction.

STUDY DESIGN

A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study.

SETTING

Inpatients.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty patients were enrolled in the trial. However, the final study group consisted of 38 patients (28 men and 10 women) after ACL reconstruction who were randomly divided into an experimental group (19 patients) and a control group (19 patients).

INTERVENTION

Each group received magnetic field therapy in the postoperative period, but only 1 apparatus emitted a magnetic field (the experimental group). Patients used the apparatus every day for 30 minutes for the next 11 days. The parameters in both devices were the same-3 mT and 10 Hz.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The measurement of the knee circumference and range of motion were made. The knee circumference measurement was performed before magnetic field therapy began and for 11 days after magnetic field treatment. The active knee range of motion was evaluated before and after magnetic field therapy was completed.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in the reduction of post-operative joint effusion or knee joint function.

CONCLUSION

In patients after ACL reconstruction, in whom an alternating magnetic field was used to treat postoperative joint effusion, there were no beneficial effects on the analyzed variables compared to the control group.

Effects of electromagnetic fields on osteogenesis of human alveolar bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells

This study was performed to investigate the effects of extremely low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (ELF-PEMFs) on the proliferation and differentiation of human alveolar bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hABMSCs). Osteogenesis is a complex series of events involving the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to generate new bone. In this study, we examined not merely the effect of ELF-PEMFs on cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and mineralization of the extracellular matrix but vinculin, vimentin, and calmodulin (CaM) expressions in hABMSCs during osteogenic differentiation. Exposure of hABMSCs to ELF-PEMFs increased proliferation by 15% compared to untreated cells at day 5. In addition, exposure to ELF-PEMFs significantly increased ALP expression during the early stages of osteogenesis and substantially enhanced mineralization near the midpoint of osteogenesis within 2 weeks. ELF-PEMFs also increased vinculin, vimentin, and CaM expressions, compared to control. In particular, CaM indicated that ELF-PEMFs significantly altered the expression of osteogenesis-related genes. The results indicated that ELF-PEMFs could enhance early cell proliferation in hABMSCs-mediated osteogenesis and accelerate the osteogenesis.