Fibromyalgia Studied With PEMF Pulsed ElectroMagnetic Fields Therapy

Abstracts of scientific studies on the use of PEMF with Fibromyalgia

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial using a low-frequency magnetic field in the treatment of musculoskeletal chronic pain

Exposure to a specific pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) has been shown to produce analgesic (antinociceptive) effects in many organisms. In a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial,patients with either chronic generalized pain from fibromyalgia (FM) or chronic localized musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain were exposed to a PEMF (400 microT) through a portable device fitted to their head during twice-daily 40 min treatments over seven days. The effect of this PEMF on pain reduction was recorded using a visual analogue scale. A differential effect of PEMF over sham treatment was noticed in patients with FM, which approached statistical significance (P=0.06) despite low numbers (n=17); this effect was not evident in those without FM (P=0.93; n=15). PEMF may be a novel, safe and effective therapeutic tool for use in at least certain subsets of patients with chronic, nonmalignant pain. Clearly, however, a larger randomized, double-blind clinical trial with just FM patients is warranted.

Author: Thomas, A. W. and Graham, K. and Prato, F. S. and McKay, J. and Forster, P. M. and Moulin, D. E. and Chari, S.

Year: 2007

Link:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=18080043

Comment:Thomas, Alex W Graham, Karissa Prato, Frank S McKay, Julia Forster, Patricia Morley Moulin, Dwight E Chari, Sesh Randomized Controlled Trial Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov’t Canada Pain research & management : the journal of the Canadian Pain Society = journal de la societe canadienne pour le traitement de la douleur Pain Res Manag. 2007 Winter;12(4):249-58.