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Description
Although the clinical benefits of electromagnetic fields have been claimed for years, it is still unclear how they work and under what circumstances they should be used for patient care.
According to some scientists, there is a positive role of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One recent study found that the responses to PEMF were more subdued in seropositive patients (those who were positive for Rheumatoid Factor in their blood).
There is evidence that direct-current and time-varying electric fields are generated in bone by metabolic activity and mechanical deformation, respectively. Externally supplied direct currents have been used to treat non-unions, appearing to trigger mitosis (cell division) and recruitment of bone-forming cells.
Time-varying electromagnetic fields have been used to heal non-unions and to stabilize hip implants, fuse spines, and treat bone decay and osteoarthritis. The mechanisms of action are still not completely understood but are being actively researched.
News reports that use stories of how a treatment works for only a few people are not sufficient proof of how well a treatment will work for most people or how safe the treatment is. People with arthritis and other disorders should check with their doctor before participating in any treatment.
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