Asst. Prof. Dr. Ayman Muhammed talked about the magnetic field therapy

• It is a therapeutic technique that consists of applying artificial magnetic fields with a controlled intensity and frequency on an affected part of the human body.
• The effectiveness of magnetic therapy includes its ability to alter person's bioenergetics field, or biofields, which are "energy fields that supposedly surround and penetrate the human body"

 

Types of Magnetic therapy

• Two ways of delivering magneto-therapy
  1. Stationary (Permanent magnets):
     1. They include the application of fully magnets which are charged with electric current and remain permanently magnetized.
     2. They are available in different shapes, such as earrings, bracelets, necklace or pellets.
     3. The main physiological effect of stationary magnetic therapy is through the creation of more space between blood cells which allows the cell to pick up more oxygen and release more energy.

1. Non-Stationary, Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF):

·       It works only when connected to electricity.
·       In which a pulsed generator connected to a coil to create a magnetic field which flows in tissue
·       Pulsed electromagnetic fields, display frequencies at the low end of the electromagnetic spectrum, from 6 Hz up to 500 Hz.
·       Another characteristic of PEMF waveforms is their rate of change.
·       High rates of change (e.g., Teslas/ second) are able to induce significant biological currents in tissues, thereby enabling them to have greater biological effects than waveforms of lower rates of change, if the biological effect is dependent on the magnitude of the induced current
The waveforms associated with PEMFs can be asymmetric, biphasic, and quasi-rectangular or quasi-triangular in shape. However, most ELF sources of electromagnetic-field stimulation produce a sinusoidal waveform

• Specific types of low-level EMFs have the ability to produce specific biological responses, depending on the parameters (e.g., magnitude, frequency, and waveform) of the field.
• Intermittent use of PEMF stimulation has been shown to produce superior outcome responses to continuous use.
• There are two methods in which PEMF can be applied to biological tissues: capacitive or inductive coupling.
• Capacitive coupling involves direct contact with the body. In which an electrode has to be placed on the skin of the treated area.

• Inductive coupling does not require the electrodes to be in direct contact with the skin.
• The time-changing magnetic field of the PEMF induces an electric field, which in turn, produces a current in the body's conductive tissue.
• The induction method allows traveling impulsive magnetic fields to penetrate deep into tissues of the patient up to 8 cm.

Advantages of the pulsed magnetic field over the static magnetic field

1. A PEMF requires no physical static magnets. Instead, a magnetic field is produced by way of passing electricity through a set of winding copper coils inside the applicator (a mat, in many cases.) This creates a much larger and entirely dynamic magnetic field.
2. A magnetic field can generate a current in any conductive material, such as nerves or other body tissues within its field. The electromagnetically-induced field accomplishes the result of transferring charge to cells of the body.
3. The current generated by the PEMF mimics normal internally-generated electrical currents.

 

Physiological effects of PEMF

• Since PEMF is not using an electric field per sec, there is no electron flow with frequency and pulse width suitable for stimulating sensory or motor nerves.
• This magnetic field is capable of causing movement of particles with an electric charge such as ions. This force is known as a Lorentz force.
• If an externally applied electromagnetic field can cause the forced movement of ions across a plasma membrane causing an effect in cellular physiology.
• This change in the cellular physiology occurs because the PEMF when applied on tissues, it induces an electric field, giving rise to a stimulating current in the tissue and a driving force on charged particles, on proteins.
• PEMF can produce these effects because its frequency lies within the biological windows
• A biological window is a range or spectrum of electromagnetic energies that are readily accepted by the body and converted to positive physiological responses.
• Signals that fall outside the biological window have little or no effect, or in some cases a negative or toxic effect.
• For example, audible frequencies can be pleasant (e.g., a symphony) or can be destructive (e.g., the sound of an explosion can permanently destroy hearing).
• The main advantage of using PEMF to create these effects, instead of electrical stimulation by the use of electrodes, is that the magnetic field penetrates unaffected through electrically insulating regions, such as the skin or bones of a human being.
• In this way, a high density of stimulating current at these surfaces is avoided, thus preventing the pain sensation.
• The physiological effects of PEMF on the non-excitable tissues are summarized in the table below.

 
 

	Mechanism of action
	Increased number of chondrocytes	75 Hz, 2.3 mT
	Increased proliferation of osteoblasts	15 Hz, 0.1 mT
	Decreased production of osteoclasts	7.5 Hz, 300 μs
	Saturates adenosine receptors leading to decreased inflammatory cytokine cascade	75 Hz, 0.2mT – 3.5mT
	Mononuclear Significant increases in IL-1β and TNF-α ( cytokines)	50 Hz, 2.25 mT
	Reduction of cAMP leads to increased proliferation of collagen cells	15 Hz, 4.8 ms pulse
	Increased proliferation of endothelial cells leading to angiogenesis	50 Hz, 1mT
	Modification of the membrane and cytoskeletal organization together with alteration of protein kinase activities	z, 2 mT

 
Biological effects of PEMF

• Biological effects of PEMF can be identified, namely molecular, supra-molecular and system, depending on the level of organization, at which such effects take place.
• The molecular mechanism involves the effects of magnetic fields on ions, radicals, paramagnetic particles. Magnetic fields can induce transitions in such molecules, change their states and reactivity.
• Supramolecular mechanisms involve effects on membranes, mitochondria, microcrystals, cell nuclei etc.
• The system mechanism is more complex and is based on the synergetic effect of molecular and supramolecular effects and is manifested on the level of the biological system (endocrine, nerve, etc.).
• The biological effects via this mechanism are more delayed in the time since they are resulted of the primary effects of the first two mechanisms, which are processed with time by the corresponding system or by the whole organism.

Therapeutic effects of PEMF
A. The following is a list of the general health benefits of using PEMF therapy:

1. Reduction of edema
2. Improvement of the circulation
3. Opening of cell membrane channels
4. Increasing the production of ATP
5. Stimulation of repair mechanisms, and
6. Enhancing the apoptosis of chronic inflammatory cells.
7. Improved re-generations speeds recovery from physical exertion, strenuous activities, and workouts, etc.;
8. Strengthens the immune system – gentle magnetic intensity does not over-stimulate the body;
9. Improved wound healing – post-operative wound healing, better scar healing, from injuries, etc;
10. Positive effects on pain reduction resulting from various causes – arthritis, back pain, bursitis, muscle stress, etc;
11. Normalizes action of the cellular electrical voltage potentials to heal their metabolism.

Indications of PEMF

PEMF is indicated in the treatment of

1. Diseases of the nervous system:
   • Encephalopathy of different genesis,
   • Vertebro-basilar insufficiency with transient disorders of cerebral circulation,
   • Neuropathy, and plexopathy compression-ischemic,
   • Post-traumatic, toxic, alcohol, radiation, infection, allergic, infectious neuritis,
   • Consequences of closed head brain injury,
   • Multiple sclerosis,
   • Migraine,
2. Diseases of the circulatory system:
   • Neurocirculatory dystonia of hypertensive type,
   • Hypertension,
   • Coronary heart disease with stable angina,
   • Obliterating atherosclerosis of the extremities,
   • Varicose limbs with venous insufficiency of phlebitis, thrombophlebitis; lymphocytosis
3. Respiratory diseases:
   • Chronic bronchitis,
   • Chronic obstructive bronchitis,
   • Acute pneumonia in the stage of resolution,
   • Chronic pneumonia in the acute stage,
   • Bronchial asthma,
   • Bronchiectasis,
   • Pulmonary tuberculosis during treatment with antibiotic therapy.
4. Diseases of the digestive system:
   • Chronic gastroduodenitis,
   • Stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcer,
   • Chronic colitis,
   • Dyskinesia of the digestive system,
   • Chronic hepatitis,
   • Chronic pancreatitis.

6. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue:
   • Osteochondrosis with cerebrogenic radiculopathy;
   • Deforming joint disease, arthritis of different etiology (rheumatoid, infectious, arthritic, psoriatic);
   • Osteoarticular tuberculosis during treatment with antibacterial drugs, firearms and the consequences of traumatic injuries of the locomotor system (fractures, dislocations of joints, damage to the menisci of the joints),
   • Inflammatory diseases and traumatic injuries of soft tissues, tendons, ligaments, joint capsule (bursitis, ligament, tenosynovitis, etc.), and hematoma.

7. Diseases of the genitourinary system:
   • Chronic pyelonephritis,
   • Chronic cystitis,
   • Chronic inflammatory disease of female genital mutilation,
   • Chronic prostatitis.
8. Endocrinopathy:

• Diabetic macro-and microangiopathy, diabetic polyneuropathy.
• Suppurative diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue under a permit or after surgery: furuncle, carbuncle, abscess, septic wounds (trauma-induced, trophic, after burns and frostbite), erysipelas, chronic osteomyelitis.
• Immunodeficiency states, including immunodeficiency states during radiotherapy

 

Contraindications for using PEMF devices:

1. Bleeding,
2. Malignant neoplasm (not on treatment),
3. Sepsis (not being treated),
4. The acute phase of myocardial infarction,
5. The acute phase of cerebral infarction,
6. Abscesses of skin, or subcutaneous tissue,
7. Cavities before surgery,
8. Puncture of the cavity;
9. Pronounced thyrotoxicosis,
10. Pregnancy,
11. The presence of an implanted pacemaker.
12. People with organ transplants on immunosuppression
13. PEMF should be used at lower intensities and with caution around implanted metals.

Duration of treatment

Using PEMF according to suggested schedule just 30 minutes, two times per day offers long-lasting, significant relief not only throughout the day but throughout the weeks and months, as it mobilizes the body’s healing resources.