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Following are descriptions of recent studies, published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, on the impact of treatment with magnetic fields on a variety of conditions.
Alzheimer’s Disease This article reports on two Alzheimer’s patients who experienced significant improvement in visual memory and drawing performance following the external application of electromagnetic fields ranging from 5 to 8 Hz. Improvements were also seen in other cognitive functions, including spatial orientation, mood, short-term memory, and social interactions.1
Noting that the disorganization of circadian rhythm (the daily biological clock) may be causally related to memory deterioration in old age and possibly to Alzheimer’s disease, this article argues that the use of magnetic fields could lead to memory improvement among the elderly by means of resynchronization, or resetting, of the circadian rhythms.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) This article reports on three patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis who experienced beneficial effects following treatment consisting of three sessions per week of pulsed magnetic fields administered via a Magnobiopulse apparatus. Patients received upwards of 75 total sessions prior to achieving maximum recovery.
Ankle Sprain Results of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study indicated that treatment with two 30-minute sessions of noninvasive pulsed radiofrequency therapy is effective in significantly decreasing the time required for edema reduction in patients suffering from lateral ankle sprains.
Arthritis This study found that 3 hours of exposure to a 50-Hz magnetic field significantly inhibited experimentally induced inflammation and suppressed arthritis in rats.
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effects of pulsed electrical fields administered over a period of 4 weeks in the treatment of arthritis of the hand. Results showed significant clinical improvement in patients receiving the therapy relative to controls.
In this general review article on the treatment of patients with psoriatic arthritis with magnetic fields, the authors state that an alternating low-frequency magnetic field (30-40 mT) from such generators as “Polius-1″ and “Polius-101″ improves the clinical state of afflicted joints. Such treatments are normally carried out for 30 minutes per day over a period of 15 to 20 days.
This study examined the effects of magneto laser therapy either itself or in combination with conventional drugs in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Magneto laser therapy involved the use of an AMLT-01 device and consisted of 6-minute exposures daily over a total of 14 days. Results showed a marked improvement following the first 3 days of magneto laser therapy, with the strongest positive effects experienced by patients characterized as suffering from mild to moderate levels of the disease. At the end of the magneto laser therapy course, 90 percent of patients showed improvement.
This study examined the effects of low-frequency magnetic fields (from a “Polius-1″ device) in patients 7 to 14 years old suffering from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment consisted of 10 daily exposures of 10 to 12 minutes each. Results showed beneficial effects in 58, 76, and 37 percent of patients in each of three experimental groups.
This study examined the effects of low-frequency and constant magnetic fields in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthrosis. Low-frequency magnetic fields were shown to produce beneficial effects in patients with both stage I and II rheumatoid arthritis and with osteoarthrosis deformans, especially with respect to the wrists, knees, and ankl
Blepharitis (infection of the eyelid) Results of this study indicated that the use of an alternating magnetic field in conjunction with a magnetic ointment containing reduced iron powder had beneficial effects in patients with chronic blepharitis.
Bone Fractures This study examined the effects of bone grafting and pulsed electromagnetic fields on a group of 83 adults with ununited fractures. Results showed a successful healing rate of 87 percent in the 38 patients originally treated with bone grafts and PEMF for ununited fractures with wide gaps, synovial pseudarthrosis, and malalignment. A healing rate of 93 percent was shown among the 45 patients who had initially been unsuccessfully treated with PEMF alone and had bone-grafting and were re-treated with pulsing electromagnetic fields.
This study examined the effects of pulsing electromagnetic fields on 125 patients suffering from ununited fractures of the tibial diaphysis. Results showed a healing rate of 87 percent.
Results of this study showed treatment with pulsed electromagnetic fields resulted in an overall success rate of at least 75 percent in patients suffering from tibial lesions.
This review article makes the following observations with respect to the use of pulsed electromagnetic fields in treating ununited fractures, failed arthrodesis, and congenital pseudarthrosis. The treatment has been shown to be more than 90 percent effective in adult patients. In cases where union does not occur with PEMFs alone after approximately four months, PEMF treatment coupled with fresh bone grafts ensures a maximum failure rate of only 1 to 1.5 percent. For those with delayed union three to four months following fracture, PEMFs appear to be more successful than in patients treated with other conservative methods. For more serious conditions, including infected nonunions, multiple surgical failures, long-standing atrophic lesions, failed knee arthrodesis after removal of infected prostheses, and congenital pseudarthroses, PEMF treatment has exhibited success in most patients.
Results of this study found that 35 of 44 non united scaphoid fractures 6 months or older healed in a mean time of 4.3 months during pulsed electromagnetic field treatment using external coils and a thumb spica cast.
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields in femoral neck fracture patients undergoing conventional therapy. PEMF treatment was started within two weeks of fracture, and patients were instructed to make use of the electromagnetic device for 8 hours per day over a 90-day period. Results showed beneficial effects relative to controls after 18 months of follow-up.
This review article on pulsing electromagnetic fields in the treatment of bone fracture observes that the surgically noninvasive outpatient method approved by the FDA in 1979 produced confirmed end results in 1007 ununited fractures and 71 failed arthrodesis, with an overall success rate at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center of 81 percent; an international success rate of 79 percent, and a success rate with other patients in the U.S. of 76 percent.
Results of this double-blind study showed significant healing effects of low-frequency pulsing electromagnetic fields in patients treated with femoral intertrochanteric osteotomy for hip degenerative arthritis.
In this study, 147 patients with fractures of the tibia, femur, and humerus who had failed to benefit from surgery received treatment with external skeletal fixation in situ and pulsed electromagnetic fields. Results indicated an overall success rate of 73 percent. Femur union was seen in 81 percent and tibia union in 75 percent.
This study examined the effects of extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields (1-1000 Hz, 4 gauss) on new bone fractures of female patients. Results led the authors to suggest that EMF treatment accelerates the early stages of fracture healing.
This study examined the preventive effects of low-frequency pulsing electromagnetic fields against delayed union in rat fibular osteotomies and diaphyseal tibia fractures in humans. Results indicated such treatment modulated and accelerated fracture union in both groups.
This article discusses the cases of two children with bone malunion following lengthening of congenitally shortened lower legs. Pulsed sinusoidal magnetic field treatment was beneficial for both patients.
Results of this study showed that 13 of 15 cases of long-bone nonunion treated with pulsed electromagnetic fields in combination with Denham external fixator united within several months.
Results of this study found electromagnetic field stimulation to be an effective treatment for nonunion among a group of 37 French patients
Results of this study found treatment induced pulsing to be beneficial in patients suffering from nonunions unresponsive to surgery.
In this interview with Dr. C. Andrew L. Bassett, a physician researching the use of pulsed electromagnetic fields for the past 30 years at Columbia University’s Orthopedic Research Lab, Dr. Bassett notes that approximately 10,000 of the 12,000-plus orthopedic surgeons in the U.S. have used pulsed electromagnetic fields on at least one patient. Many such surgeons have incorporated the therapy on a more regular basis. He estimates that a total of at least 65,000 patients nationwide have received the treatment, with a probable success rate of between 80 and 90 percent. Use of the treatment has been primarily in patients suffering from non united fractures, fusion failures, and pseudarthrosis.
Results of this study showed pulsed electromagnetic fields to have beneficial healing effects in patients suffering from difficult to treat and surgically resistant bone nonunions.
This review article notes that the use of pulsed electromagnetic fields began in 1974, and that 250,000 nonunion patients have received the treatment since. The author argues that success rates are comparable to those of bone grafting, and that PEMF treatment is more cost-effective and free of side effects. The FDA approved PEMF use in 1982, although it remains widely unused due to physician misunderstanding and lack of knowledge concerning the treatment.36
This 7-year study examined data on more than 11,000 cases of nonunions treated with pulsed electromagnetic fields for up to 10 to 12 hours per day. Results indicated an overall success rate of 75 percent.
This study examined the effects of low-frequency electromagnetic fields (1-1000 Hz) on middle-aged female patients suffering from fresh radius fractures. Results showed significant increases in scintimetric activity surrounding the fracture area after two weeks of EMF treatment relative to controls.
This study examined the effects of constant magnetic fields in patients suffering from fractures. Results showed that magnetic exposure reduced pain and the onset of edema shortly after trauma. Where edema was already present, the treatment exhibited marked anti-inflammatory effects. The strongest beneficial effects occurred in patients suffering from fractures of the ankle joints.
Results of this study found that 10 hours per day of electromagnetic stimulation (1.0-1.5 mV) produced complete union in 23 of 26 patients receiving the treatment for non joined fractures
This review article looks at the history of pulsed electromagnetic fields as a means of bone repair. The author argues that success rates have been either superior or equivalent to those of surgery, with PEMF free of side effects and risk.
Bronchitis Results of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study indicated that both low-frequency electromagnetic field treatment and treatment with pulsed electromagnetic fields proved effective in patients suffering from chronic bronchitis when coupled with standard drug therapies. Magnetic field treatment consisted of a total of 15 15-20-minute daily exposures.
Cancer Results of this study found that prolonged exposure to a 7-tesla uniform static magnetic field for a period of 64 hours inhibited growth of three human tumor cell lines in vitro.
This study examined the effects of a rotational magnetic field on a group of 51 breast cancer patients. Results showed a significant positive response in 27 of them.
Results of this study indicated that exposure to a rotational magnetic field inhibited Walker’s carcinoma tumor growth as much as 90 percent in some cases.
Results of this study indicated that pulsed magnetic field stimulation increased the incorporation of antitumor agents into cells, and thus increased antitumor activity shifting the cell cycle to a proliferative from a nonproliferative phase.
Results of this study found that 20-30 sessions of magneto therapy administered preoperatively exhibited antitumor effects in patients suffering from lung cancer.
This study examined the effects of microwave resonance therapy (MRT) in patients suffering from various forms of cancer. Results showed that MRT treatment prior to surgery reduced the spread of cancer-associated conditions and reduced the risk associated with surgery in 87 percent of patients. MRT applied postoperatively had beneficial effects in 68 percent.
Results of this study proved that the combination of weak pulsed electromagnetic fields with antioxidant supplementation is beneficial in the treatment of patients suffering from tongue cancer, improving speech, pain control, and tolerance to chemotherapy.
Results of this controlled study indicated that treatment with a constant magnetic field significantly improved long-term (3-year) survival time in patients undergoing radiation therapy for cancer of the throat. Constant magnetic field therapy consisted of the application of 300 mT for 30 minutes to tumor and metastasizing regions immediately prior to each irradiation.
Results of this Russian study indicated that the use of whole body eddy magnetic fields, coupled with more conventional cancer therapies (including magneto therapy) is effective in the treatment of patients suffering from a variety of different malignancies.
This article reports on the case of a 48-year-old-woman with breast cancer who was treated successfully with magneto therapy. Infiltration showed a marked decrease following 30 whole body exposures to an eddy magnetic field for 60 minutes. One metastatic node disappeared while the size of others was reduced following 60 such exposures. A total regression of tumor and metastases was seen following the completion of a course of 110 exposures.
This study examined the effects of whole body magnetic fields (16.5-35 G, 50-165 Hz) on patients suffering from different forms of cancer. Treatment consisted of 15 cycles, each 1-20 minutes in duration, and was coupled with more traditional cancer therapies. Results showed that the magnetotherapy had overall beneficial effects, particularly with respect to improved immune status and postoperative recovery.
Cardiovascular/Coronary Heart Disease Results of this study found that the addition of magnetotherapy to the treatment of patients suffering from ischemic heart disease and osteochondrosis led to clinical improvements.
Results of this study involving 23 parasystolic children found that low-frequency magnetic field exposure improved humoral and cellular processes involved in the regulation of cardiac rhythm.
The authors of this study report on their development of a polymagnetic system called Avrora-MK-01 used to administer impulse magnetic fields to diseases of the leg vessels. Results indicated positive effects on peripheral capillaries in 75-82 percent of patients receiving the treatment at a pre-gangrene stage.
Results of this study showed exposure to low-frequency alternating magnetic fields had beneficial effects in children with primary arterial hypertension, as seen in the attenuation of sympathetic and vagotonic symptoms.
This study demonstrated that traveling pulsed magnetic field and magnetic laser treatment produced beneficial effects in patients suffering from the initial stages of essential hypertension.
In this article, the authors propose a new approach to treating atherosclerosis through the alteration of biophysical properties both intracellularly and extracellularly. Citing their own preliminary data, they suggest atherosclerotic lesions might be selectively resolved without harming normal blood vessels allowing the lesions to take up the magnetically excitable submicron particles and then applying an external alternating electromagnetic field.
This study examined the effects of constant MKM2-1 magnets on essential hypertension patients. Results indicated the treatment decreased arterial pressure in stage II patients, with magneto therapy being shown to produce beneficial effects on the central hemodynamics and microcirculation.
Results from several recent studies conducted the author are reviewed. Conclusions are that pulsed electromagnetic fields exhibit protective effects against necrosis from acute ischemia in rats, cerebral infarcts in rabbits, and myocardial infarcts in rats.
This study examined the effects of extremely high frequency electromagnetic radiation (EHF EMR) in 93 patients suffering ischemic heart disease. EHF treatment consisted of 10 to 15 exposures of the lower end of the sternum from a ‘Yav’-1-7,1 device. Treatment was performed five times weekly for a total of 30 minutes per day, with drug therapy being maintained during this period. Positive results tended to occur after 5 to 6 treatment sessions, with a good or satisfactory response being reported in 82 of 93 patients, and lasting as long as 11 months after hospital release.
This review article concerning the clinical application of electromagnetic fields notes that microwave therapy has been shown to improve local circulation and vascular tone, increase the volume of functional capillaries, lower hypertension, stimulate protein and carbohydrate metabolism, stimulate the pituitary-adrenal system, produce anti-inflammatory effects, and improve digestive organ function. Studies have shown decimeter wave therapy capable of stimulating the secretory function of the stomach, as well as blood circulation, respiratory function, and the immune system. Side effects have been reported in both human and animal studies.
In this study, 30 myocardial infarction patients received millimeter-wave (MW) therapy in the form of 10 exposures of 30 minutes per day, with a 2-day interruption after the fifth exposure. Patients continued conventional drug treatment during the MW therapy period. Better results were seen in those patients exposed to the MW therapy relative to an equal number of patients receiving conventional treatment only.
This study examined the effects of millimeter wave therapy in approximately 450 patients suffering from a variety of diseases, including those of the musculoskeletal, digestive, pulmonary, and nervous systems. Treatment consisted of 25-30 minutes per day using the “Porog-1″ apparatus and generally lasted for a period of up to 10 days. Results showed positive effects in over 87 percent of the patients.
Results of this study found that the use of magnetophone therapy (constant magnets applied to adrenal regions 10 hours per day for 15 days) significantly improved symptoms associated with hypertension in about 35 percent of patients studied, with mild improvement seen in 30 percent, and no improvement in 35 percent. Patients receiving decimeter-band waves (460 MHz, field intensity of 35-45 W, for 10-15 minutes per day for a total of 15 days) experienced similar results.
Results of this placebo-controlled study demonstrated a 76-percent effectiveness rate for running impulse magnetic field therapy in a group of arterial hypertensive patients. Treatment consisted of two 25-minute exposures per day over a period of 10-20 total exposures, at frequencies of 10 or 100 Hz and magnetic field intensity of 3 or 10 mT.
This study examined the efficacy of the reinfusion of autologous blood following magnetic field exposure in hypertensive patients. Positive effects were found in 92 percent of patients receiving the treatment
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effects of magneto therapy in patients suffering from first- or second-stage hypertension. A magnetic field of 50 Hz, 15-25 mT was applied to acupuncture points He-Gu and Shen’-Men for 15-20 seconds per day for a total of 9-10 days. Results: The treatment improved headaches in 88 percent of patients, dizziness in 89 percent, and irritability in 88 percent. In general, 95 percent of hypertensive patients experienced beneficial effects from the treatment, and the morbidity rate decreased twofold following one course extended over a period of 5-6 months.
This placebo-controlled study examined the effects of constant and of running magnetic fields in patients suffering from stage II hypertension. Results found that constant magnetic fields exhibited benefits in 68 percent of patients treated, and running magnetic fields were helpful in 78 percent. Only 30 percent of controls showed improvement. Constant magnetic field treatment consisted of constant magnets applied to the inner side of the wrist on each hand for 35-40 minutes daily over a period of 7-10 days. Running magnetic field treatment involved the use of a “Alimp-1″ apparatus for 20 minutes per day for a total of 12-15 days.
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that magneto therapy was effective in the treatment of symptoms associated with stage II hypertension, such as headache, dizziness, and cardiodynia. The therapy consisted of permanent circular magnets (16 mT) applied to the inner forearm for 30-45 minutes per day over a period of 10 sessions.
This controlled study examined the effects of magneto therapy in patients suffering from neurocirculatory hypotension (low blood pressure) or hypertension (high blood pressure). Treatment consisted of a running pulsed magnetic field generated an “ALIMP” device (0.5 mT, 300 Hz) administered for 20 minutes per day over a course of 10 days. Patients suffering from hypotension did not benefit significantly from the magneto therapy. Hypertension patients, however, showed a marked improvement with respect to symptoms including headache, chest pain, extremity numbness, abnormal systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and work capacity
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that low-frequency, low-intensity electrostatic fields (40-62 Hz) administered for 12-14 minutes per day helped normalize blood pressure in patients suffering from hypertension.
This study examined the effects of low-frequency alternating magnetic fields in patients suffering from arteriosclerosis or osteoarthrosis deformans. Treatment involved 10-15 minute daily leg exposures over a total of 15 days. Results showed the treatment to be effective in 80 percent of arteriosclerosis patients and 70 percent of those with osteoarthrosis deformans.
This study examined the effects of low-frequency magnetic fields (25 mT) in patients suffering atherosclerotic encephalopathy. Treatment involved 10-15 minute daily exposures over a total of 10-15 applications. Results showed clinical improvements with respect to chest pain, vertigo, headache, and other symptoms.
Chronic Venous Insufficiency This study examined the effects of alternating magnetic fields (15-20 minutes per day over a period of 20 days) in patients suffering from chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins, and trophic shin ulcers. Results showed good effects in 236 of the 271 patients receiving the treatment. Thirty-four patients reported satisfactory effects. Only one patient experienced no effects.
This review article notes that magnetotherapy in a variety of forms has been successfully used in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency and is a commonly used physical therapy for the condition.
This study examined the effects of running impulse magnetic fields in patients suffering from vessel obliteration diseases of the legs. Treatment consisted of 15-20 whole body exposures (0.5-5 mT, 1-2 Hz) lasting 15-20 minutes each. Results showed treatment led to a significant reduction in the number of patients experiencing leg pain while at rest. Among patients previously unable to walk a 500-m distance, 52 percent were able to complete the distance following treatment. Circulation improved in 75-82 percent of patients.
Dental Problems This placebo-controlled study examined the effects of micromagnets in the treatment of periodontal disease. Micromagnets were attached to the skin over areas of inflammation for a period ranging from 1 to 8 days, with the number of magnets used at once varying from 1 to 6. The course of treatment lasted as long as 4 weeks. Results indicated that patients receiving the micromagnet therapy experienced earlier and more trouble-free recoveries following oral surgery, as well as less pain relative to controls.
This controlled study examined the effects of adjunctive Diapulse electromagnetic therapy on oral surgery recovery. Patients received the therapy once per day beginning between 3 to 5 days prior to oral surgery. Therapy was maintained until the point of hospital release. Results found the therapy produced significant healing relative to controls, who received conventional treatment only.
This study found that patients suffering from various oral diseases experienced more rapid healing when treated with both conventional therapies and 30 minutes per day of pulsed electromagnetic fields (5 mT, 30 Hz), as opposed to conventional therapies alone.
Depression This review article examined the literature concerning the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of depression. Results showed the high-frequency, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment to be an effective, side-effect free therapy for depression that may hold promise for treating related psychiatric disorders as well.
Noting that there is good reason to believe the pineal gland is a magneto sensitive system and that application of magnetic fields in experimental animals has a similar effect to that of acute exposure to light with respect to melatonin secretion, the authors propose that magnetic treatment could be a beneficial new therapy for winter depression in humans.
This review article notes that transcranial magnetic stimulation has been shown to elicit antidepressant effects, electrically stimulating deep regions of the brain.
In this theoretical paper, the author argues that deep, low-rate transcranial magnetic stimulation can produce therapeutic effects equivalent to those of electroconvulsive therapy but without the dangerous side effects.
This study examined the effects of millimeter wave (MW) therapy as a supplemental treatment in patients suffering from various types of depression. MW therapy involved the use of a “Yav’-1″ apparatus (5.6 mm wavelength, 53 GHz), and consisted of up to 60 minutes of exposure per day, 2 to 3 times per week, for a total of as many as 15 exposures. Results showed that combined MW/conventional treatment produced a complete recovery in over 50 percent of cases studied, a significant improvement in 41 percent, and some improvement in 8 percent. Recovery rates among controls (conventional treatment only) were 4, 48, and 41 percent, respectively
Results of this study led researchers to conclude that patients suffering from major depression experienced a significant reduction of depressive symptoms following treatment with transcranial magnetic stimulation coupled with standard medication relative to patients taking the medicine. This was true after just three TMS treatments.
Dermatitis This study examined the effects of conventional treatments combined with millimeter wave (MW) therapy (54- to 70-GHz frequency, 8-15 daily exposures of 15-30 minutes each) on patients suffering from atopic dermatitis. Results indicated that the MW therapy was well-tolerated all patients, with the rash generally regressing after 7-8 exposures. Marked recovery was seen among 78 percent of patients receiving the combination treatments. Two-year follow-up showed a 23-percent relapse rate among combination patients, compared to 54 percent among controls
Diabetes In this study, 320 diabetics received impulsed magnetic field treatment while 100 diabetics (controls) received conservative therapy alone. Results showed beneficial effects with respect to vascular complications in 74 percent of the patients receiving magneto therapy combined with conservative methods, compared to a 28-percent effectiveness rate among controls. This study involving 72 diabetics with purulent wounds found that magnetic fields aided healing significantly.
Diseases of the Larynx
Results of this study found that alternative magnetic field of sound frequency proved to be an effective treatment in patients suffering from acute inflammatory diseases of the larynx.
Duchenne-Erb Disease This study examined the effects of electromagnetic fields in the treatment of 5-year-old children suffering from Duchenne-Erb disease. Children were exposed to either UHF or DMW therapy for 8-12 minutes per day on alternating days over a period of approximately 10 days. Following the electromagnetic fields course, children received mud applications on the collar area and injured extremity. Results showed that treatment decreased contractures in shoulder and elbow joints, increased mobility and muscle strength, and improved general function of the arm.
Endometriosis This study found that a combined treatment consisting of magnetic-infrared-laser therapy (10-15 min/day ever other day over a period of 10-14 exposures, then repeated in 2-3 months) and conventional drug therapy proved highly effective in women suffering from endometriosis.
Endometritis Results of this study found that the administration of constant magnetic field in combination with other treatment modalities led to significant beneficial effects in patients suffering from acute endometritis following abortion
Epilepsy This article reports on the cases of three patients with partial seizures who received treatment with external artificial magnetic fields of low intensity. Such treatment led to a significant attenuation of seizure frequency over a 10-14-month period.
Experimental results indicated that the administration of modulated electromagnetic fields of 2-30 Hz suppressed epilepsy in rats.
This review article cites one study in particular in which results showed that pretreatment with 30 minutes of exposure to a 75-mT pole strength, DC-powered magnetic field significantly prevented experimentally induced seizures in mice.
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effects of 2-hour exposure to weak magnetic fields (0.2-0.7 G, irregularly oscillating 0.026-0.067 Hz) produced 3 pairs of orthogonal Helmholtz coils on pain perception in healthy subjects. Results showed that magnetic treatment significantly reduced the perception of pain.
This article reports on the case of a severe epileptic who experienced a significant lessening of behavior disturbances and seizure frequency following treatment with low-frequency, external artificial magnetic fields.
Low-frequency, external artificial magnetic field treatment was shown to significantly reduce seizures in four adult epileptic cases.
Gastroduodenitis Results of this study indicated that treatment with decimeter-band electromagnetic fields improved motor function of the stomach and reduced dyspepsia and pain in children suffering from chronic gastroduodenitis. Treatment made use of the “Romashka” apparatus (a cylinder applicator, 100 mm in diameter, power of 6-8 W) applied to the gastroduodenal region, and consisted of 6-12 minute exposures every other day for a total of 8-12 exposures.
This controlled study examined the effects of sinusoidally modulated currents (100 Hz) coupled with conventional therapy in children suffering from chronic gastroduodenitis. Children received 8-10 exposures lasting between 6 and 10 minutes. Results showed that the treatment reduced inflammation in 72 percent of patients relative to just a 45-percent rate among controls. About 77 percent of treatment patients experienced elimination of gastro-esophageal and duodeno-gastral refluxes, compared to 29 percent of controls.
General Results of this study indicated that the optimal frequency of pulsed magnetic fields ranges between 10.0 and 25.0 Hz in the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions of the neural apparatus, ischemia of the blood vessels of the lower extremities, dyspeptic syndrome, lactation mastitis, and other diseases. Treatment proved best when the therapeutic cycle was repeated after a 2-3 month period.
This article reviews the use of magnetotherapy in Czechoslovakia. Noting that this modality has been used for more than a decade, the author states that magneto therapy has been shown to be effective in treating rheumatic diseases, sinusitis, enuresis, and ischemic disorders of the lower extremities. Positive findings have also been shown with respect to multiple sclerosis and degenerative diseases of the retina.