Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF therapy)

Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF therapy) is a non-invasive physical therapy that applies low-frequency, pulsed electromagnetic fields to tissues in an attempt to promote healing and reduce pain and inflammation. It is FDA-cleared for use in the treatment of certain types of bone fractures and as an adjunct to cervical fusion surgery in patients at high risk for non-fusion. Typical biological effects are believed to include modulation of cell membrane potential, increased calcium influx, upregulation of nitric oxide synthesis, and modulation of blood flow and tissue oxygenation. However, PEMF therapy is a device-driven, physical intervention, not a singular molecule, receptor, or protein, and thus not considered a canonical therapeutic target in the sense of a receptor, enzyme, or gene product. Because this entry refers to a therapy method rather than a molecular target, most fields typically used for molecular or cellular targets do not apply.

Other names

Pulsed electromagnetic field therapyPEMF therapyPEMFTlow field magnetic stimulationLFMS