At the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan researchers have been testing the effectiveness of a pulsed electromagnetic field device to help with pain and inflammation management in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. According to Ivivi Health Sciences of San Francisco, California, the maker of SofPulse System, its device produces pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) to induce micro-currents in injured tissues, which in turn are thought to act on the binding kinetics of calcium and calmodulin to increase production of nitric oxide which then reduces inflammation. Paint us skeptical, but hopefully the company is right on the physiology of its device. The findings of the latest study will be presented at this week’s Orthopaedic Research Society’s annual meeting in New Orleans.
From a statement by the Henry Ford Health System:
In the double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study, 34 patients used a portable battery-operated device that emits a low-intensity pulsating electromagnetic frequency and experienced more than 40 percent pain relief on their first day.
Patients strapped the small, ring-shaped plastic device around their knees for 15 minutes, twice daily for six weeks. The device was lightweight and patients could position the device directly over clothing. All participants were given a device with a coil that appeared to work but some were assigned active coils and others were given non-active coils.
Press release: Electromagnetic Pulses Provide Pain Relief …
Product page: Ivivi’s SofPulse …
