Efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: A double-blind, randomized-controlled trial.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of combined pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) treatment and physical therapy on pain, stiffness, and functional limitation in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Patients and methods: In this double-blind, randomized-controlled study, a total of 70 female patients with primary knee OA (mean age: 59.74±9.82 years; range, 40 to 80 years) were randomly allocated into PEMF and sham groups between March 2014 and July 2015. Both groups received 15 sessions of physical therapy over three weeks. Additionally, the PEMF group received PEMF treatment for 30 min/day, while the control group received sham PEMF. The patients were assessed by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Physician Global Assessment (PGA) scale before and three and seven weeks after treatment.

Results: Regardless of the group, all patients' pain levels were significantly improved in both scales at three and seven weeks after treatment (p<0.001). The PEMF group had significantly less pain than the sham group based on the VAS score (p=0.003). The PEMF group had significantly lower functional limitation and stiffness at seven weeks (p=0.008). Recovery ratios based on the PGA score were significantly higher in the PEMF group both at three and seven weeks (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Patients with knee OA who receive PEMF therapy in addition to physical therapy have more pain reduction and physical improvement. Based on these findings, PEMF is a safe and well-tolerated treatment of choice in this patient population.