Pulsed electromagnetic energy treatment offers no clinical benefit in reducing the pain of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis often includes electrotherapeutic modalities as well as advice and exercise. One commonly used modality is pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF). PEMF uses electro magnetically generate...

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Main Authors: Callaghan Michael, McCarthy Christopher, Oldham Jacqueline
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2006-06-01
Series:BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/7/51
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author Callaghan Michael
McCarthy Christopher
Oldham Jacqueline
author_facet Callaghan Michael
McCarthy Christopher
Oldham Jacqueline
author_sort Callaghan Michael
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis often includes electrotherapeutic modalities as well as advice and exercise. One commonly used modality is pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF). PEMF uses electro magnetically generated fields to promote tissue repair and healing rates. Its equivocal benefit over placebo treatment has been previously suggested however recently a number of randomised controlled trials have been published that have allowed a systematic review to be conducted.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A systematic review of the literature from 1966 to 2005 was undertaken. Relevant computerised bibliographic databases were searched and papers reviewed independently by two reviewers for quality using validated criteria for assessment. The key outcomes of pain and functional disability were analysed with weighted and standardised mean differences being calculated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Five randomised controlled trials comparing PEMF with placebo were identified. The weighted mean differences of the five papers for improvement in pain and function, were small and their 95% confidence intervals included the null.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This systematic review provides further evidence that PEMF has little value in the management of knee osteoarthritis. There appears to be clear evidence for the recommendation that PEMF does not significantly reduce the pain of knee osteoarthritis.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-653c491937fd4cd8a1c659b83ec6c87d2022-12-22T03:25:50ZengBMCBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders1471-24742006-06-01715110.1186/1471-2474-7-51Pulsed electromagnetic energy treatment offers no clinical benefit in reducing the pain of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic reviewCallaghan MichaelMcCarthy ChristopherOldham Jacqueline<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis often includes electrotherapeutic modalities as well as advice and exercise. One commonly used modality is pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF). PEMF uses electro magnetically generated fields to promote tissue repair and healing rates. Its equivocal benefit over placebo treatment has been previously suggested however recently a number of randomised controlled trials have been published that have allowed a systematic review to be conducted.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A systematic review of the literature from 1966 to 2005 was undertaken. Relevant computerised bibliographic databases were searched and papers reviewed independently by two reviewers for quality using validated criteria for assessment. The key outcomes of pain and functional disability were analysed with weighted and standardised mean differences being calculated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Five randomised controlled trials comparing PEMF with placebo were identified. The weighted mean differences of the five papers for improvement in pain and function, were small and their 95% confidence intervals included the null.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This systematic review provides further evidence that PEMF has little value in the management of knee osteoarthritis. There appears to be clear evidence for the recommendation that PEMF does not significantly reduce the pain of knee osteoarthritis.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/7/51
spellingShingle Callaghan Michael
McCarthy Christopher
Oldham Jacqueline
Pulsed electromagnetic energy treatment offers no clinical benefit in reducing the pain of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
title Pulsed electromagnetic energy treatment offers no clinical benefit in reducing the pain of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review
title_full Pulsed electromagnetic energy treatment offers no clinical benefit in reducing the pain of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review
title_fullStr Pulsed electromagnetic energy treatment offers no clinical benefit in reducing the pain of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Pulsed electromagnetic energy treatment offers no clinical benefit in reducing the pain of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review
title_short Pulsed electromagnetic energy treatment offers no clinical benefit in reducing the pain of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review
title_sort pulsed electromagnetic energy treatment offers no clinical benefit in reducing the pain of knee osteoarthritis a systematic review
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/7/51
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AT oldhamjacqueline pulsedelectromagneticenergytreatmentoffersnoclinicalbenefitinreducingthepainofkneeosteoarthritisasystematicreview