Brief, weekly magnetic muscle therapy improves mobility and lean body mass in older adults: a Southeast Asia community case study

Author: Sharanya Venugobal1, Yee Kit Tai2,3,4,5, Jorming Goh6,7,8,9, Sean Teh1, Craig Wong2,3,4, Ivan Goh1, Andrea B Maier7,8,10, Brian K Kennedy6,7,8,9,11, Alfredo Franco-Obregón2,3,4,5,6,7,12
Affiliation:
1 QuantumTx, Alexandra Hospital, Block 29 Level 1 Centre for Innovation in Healthcare, Co-Working Space, Singapore.
2 Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
3 Institute of Health Technology and Innovation (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore.
4 Biolonic Currents Electromagnetic Pulsing Systems Laboratory (BICEPS), National University of Singapore, Singapore.
5 NUS Centre for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
6 Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
7 Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
8 Centre for Healthy Longevity, National University Health System, Singapore.
9 Singapore Institute of Clinical Sciences, A*STAR, Singapore.
10 Department of Human Movement Sciences, @AgeAmsterdam, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
11 Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
12 Nanomedicine Translational Research Programme, Centre for NanoMedicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Conference/Journal: Aging (Albany NY)
Date published: 2023 Mar 19
Other: Volume ID: 15 , Special Notes: doi: 10.18632/aging.204597. , Word Count: 201

Brief (10 min) weekly exposure to low energy pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) has been shown to improve human muscle mitochondrial bioenergetics and attenuate systemic lipotoxicity following anterior cruciate ligament surgical reconstruction. Here we present data generated from 101 participants, 62% female, aged 38-91 years, recruited from the QuantumTx Demo Centre in Singapore, wherein 87% of participants (n = 88) presented with pre-existing mobility dysfunction and 13% (n = 13) were healthy volunteers. Participants were recruited if: (i) not pregnant; (ii) above 35 years of age and; (iii) without surgical implants. All participants completed mobility testing, pre- and post- PEMF intervention for 12 weeks, whereas bioelectrical impedance analysis was conducted in a subgroup of 42 and 33 participants at weeks 4 and 8, respectively. Weekly PEMF exposure was associated with significant improvements in mobility (Timed Up and Go, 5 times Sit-to-Stand, and 4m Normal Gait Speed) and body composition (increased skeletal muscle mass and reduced total and visceral fat mass), particularly in the older participants. Perception of pain was also significantly reduced. PEMF therapy may provide a manner to counteract age-associated mobility and metabolic disruptions and merits future investigation in randomized controlled trials to elucidate its clinical benefits in the frail and older adult populations.

Keywords: frailty; intra-abdominal fat; muscle weakness; sarcopenia; type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PMID: 36934330 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204597

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