Efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field on pain and physical function in patients with low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Author: Xin Sun1,2, Liyi Huang1,2, Lu Wang1,2, Chenying Fu3,4, Qing Zhang1,2, Hongxin Cheng1,2, Gaiqin Pei1,2, Yang Wang1,2, Chengqi He1,2, Quan Wei1,2
Affiliation:
1 Rehabilitation Medical Center and Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, 12530Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China.
2 Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, PR China.
3 National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, 12530Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China.
4 Aging and Geriatric mechanism laboratory, West China Hospital, 12530Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China.
Conference/Journal: Clin Rehabil
Date published: 2022 Jan 25
Other:
Special Notes: doi: 10.1177/02692155221074052. , Word Count: 245
Objective:
To assess the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on pain and physical function in patients with low back pain.
Data sources:
A search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was conducted up to December 2021.
Methods:
We included randomized controlled trials that investigated the effectiveness of PEMF in patients with low back pain. The primary outcome was pain intensity and the secondary outcome was physical function, both were evaluated by assessment scales. Standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for the summary statistics analysis. The registration number of this systematic review in PROSPERO is CRD42020213829.
Results:
Fourteen trials involving 618 participants were included. The PEMF treatment showed more significant pain alleviation than placebo or other therapy alone in patients with low back pain (SMD = -1.01, 95% CI -1.42 to -0.6, P < 0.001, I2 = 31%; SMD = -0.36, 95% CI -0.62 to -0.11, P = 0.005, I2 = 37%, respectively.) In addition, a significant difference in pain alleviation was observed in patients with chronic low back pain (SMD = -0.6, 95%CI - 0.94 to -0.25, p < 0.001, I2 = 67%), whereas no significant difference was observed in patients with acute low back pain (SMD = -0.46, 95%CI - 0.99 to 0.07, p = 0.09, I2 = 0%). PEMF did not improve physical function compared with the control treatment (SMD = -0.45, 95% CI - 0.98 to 0.07, p = 0.09, I2 = 86%).
Conclusion:
PEMF is beneficial for alleviating pain in patients with chronic low back pain despite having no advantage in improving physical function.
Keywords: Low back pain; Pain; Physical function; Pulsed electromagnetic field.
PMID: 35077249 DOI: 10.1177/02692155221074052
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