A comparison of the effects of pulse electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy on pain and functionality in knee osteoarthritis

A Comparison of the Effects of Pulse Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF) and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Therapy on Pain and Functionality in Knee Osteoarthritis.Dr. Mustafa F. Yaşar, Master?s Thesis, Bolu, 2010The purpose of our study is to research the effectiveness of PEMF, an easy-to-use, alternative therapy method having no significant contraindications, on pain and functionality in knee osteoarthritis and to compare the results with TENS.48 symptomatic cases over the age of 38 who had no physical treatment programs during the last 1 year and who were diagnosed with `Primary Knee Osteoarthritis? according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria were included in our study. All of the cases were clinically, laboratory and radiographically evaluated.The patients were divided into 2 groups, each containing 24 persons, by randomization, and TENS therapy was applied at 100 Hz frequency for 30 minutes to the first group. PEMF was applied on the second group for 24 minutes at 50 Hz frequency, with a 60 microtesla magnetic field. The therapy was applied on the cases for two weeks, 5 days a week, and one session a day. 20 dk hotpack and 1,5 W/cm2 US 6 min were applied on cases in both groups as a combination therapy.Groups (Group 1: Hotpack+US+TENS, Group 2: Hotpack+US+PEMF) were evaluated using the VAS, WOMAC and Lequesne scales both before and after the therapy. In both groups, a meaningful (p<0.05) post-therapy improvement were observed in VAS, WOMAC index and Lequesne scale scores compared to pre-therapy. A comparison of the pre-therapy VAS, WOMAC index and Lequesne scale and post-therapy VAS, WOMAC index and Lequesne scale between the two groups yielded no meaningful results. In our study, the WOMAC index and Lequesne scale sub-groups were evaluated for both therapy groups and between the groups. It was seen that both combination therapies were effective but they were not superior to one another. As a result, our study supported the view that the PEMF therapy is an alternative therapy method in knee osteoarthritis and is an inexpensive and reliable method that could be incorporated into therapy protocols.Keywords: Pulse electromagnetic field, knee, osteoarthritis, TENS