Evaluation of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field in the management of osteoarthritis using Electromyography – An Interventional study

Description

Knee pain is one of the most frequent musculoskeletal problems among the middle-aged and elderly people and ‘Osteoarthritis’ is the widespread clinical pathology of the knee. Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate whether low frequency Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field (PEMF) therapy is effective in patients with osteoarthritis knee using surface Electromyography (sEMG) of vastus medialis. Methods: The participants were subjected to Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy using the PULSATRON  instrument designed by Madras Institute of Magnetobiology, Anna nagar. They were given PEMF therapy of 10 Hz for 60 minutes/ day for 21 days with a break after every 6 days. The participants of the study were subjected to Electromyography of vastus medialis using the MEDICAID PHYSIOPAC machine. The findings are compared before and after the duration of PEMF therapy. Results: The study shows that Low frequency PEMF (10 Hz) can be used as a treatment modality for Osteoarthritis. PEMF therapy, when given for a sufficient time (21 days) can improve the stiffness and the power of muscles as seen by the increase in amplitude of electromyography. The mean amplitude of sEMG in vastus medialis was found to be significantly increased (p <0.001) in the study group following the Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field (PEMF) therapy.