History of Pulsed Magnetic Field Therapy (PEMF)

[Michael J Robey]

History of Pulsed Magnetic Field Therapy (PEMF)

The use of pulsed magnetic field therapy (PEMF) in clinical
applications dates back over 500 years. In the 15th century, Swiss
physician and alchemist Paracelsus used lodestones, or naturally
magnetized pieces of the mineral magnetite, to treat conditions such
as epilepsy, diarrhea, and hemorrhage. He believed that the ability of
magnets to attract iron could be replicated by attracting disease away
from the body. In the late 18th century, the Austrian physician Franz
Anton Mesmer, who originated the idea of "animal magnetism", described
the healing properties of passing magnets over the open veins of
patients.

In the mid-19th century, magnetic ointments produced in New York were
introduced as remedies for a whole spectrum of illnesses such as
headaches, inflammation of the bowels, burns, fever sores, rheumatism,
gout, and toothache.

Although electricity’s potential to aid bone healing was reported as
early as 1841, it was not until the mid-1950s that scientists
seriously studied the subject. Fukada’s and Yasuda’s discovery of the
electric potential of bone provides evidence of electricity’s effect
in promoting osteogenesis (bone growth), particularly in long bone non-
unions.During the 1970s, Bassett and his team introduced a new
approach for the treatment of delayed fractures, a technique that
employed a very specific biphasic low frequency signal to be applied
for non-union/delayed fractures.

The use of electrical stimulation in the lumbosacral region was first
attempted by Alan Dwyer of Australia. In 1974, he reported successful
initiation of graft incorporation in 11 of 12 fusion patients. Since
that time, electrical stimulation has been shown to significantly
increase the probability of bony arthrodesis in spinal fusions.

In 1979 the FDA approved non-invasive devices using pulsed
electromagnetic fields designed to stimulate bone growth.In 1991, PEMF
Therapy was approved in the US for adjunctive use in the palliative
treatment of postoperative pain and edema in superficial soft tissue.

In 2004, pulsed electromagnetic field system was approved by FDA as an
adjunct to cervical fusion surgery in patients at high risk for non-
fusion.

The use of PEMF stimulation has been found to be safe.It has also been
proven safe and effective in treatment of delayed union in long bone
fractures and patients at a risk of non-union following spinal fusion
surgeries.

Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEMF

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