Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field Therapy (PEMF)
PERFORMANCE
Biohacking Part III
Jeffrey Tucker
DC, DACBR
I have experimented with the effects of PEMF sessions on my patients in resolving musculoskeletal pain for over a year now. I refer to it as ‘magnawaving.’ There is clinical evidence that indicates PEMF can be beneficial in the treatment of the following:
• The healing of non-union bone fractures (bone growth) 2 3 4’5
• Cervical fusion patients that are high risk of non-fusion 1,5
• Depression and anxiety (transcranial magnetic therapy)10
• Urinary incontinence and muscle stimulation (In one study, results were evaluated after 3 months. In 10 patients [7 post prostatectomy, 3 cystourethrocele] who were submitted to 18 sessions, twice per week, an improvement of incontinence in 75% of cases with patient compliance and quality of life improved up to 100%)11
Combining our improved understanding of tissue healing and regeneration, PEMF is gaining significant clinical importance and potential, especially to someone like myself who is an ‘off-label’ practitioner and ‘biohacker.’ Prior to and during a course of PEMF, I was able to demonstrate improvements (using a four lead body composition device) in the patient’s hydration, breaking it down into intracellular and extracellular fluids, and the phase angle, which is a measurement of the body’s overall cell membrane and body cell mass health. Achieving proper hydration, especially at the intracellular level, is vital to good health. Yet, hydration is often overlooked by most practitioners as a cause of poor health or slow progress in patients.
I also measure the patient’s oxygen levels using a simple finger oximeter and/or off-the-shelf tests that measure fatty acids (omega oils) in the body. For all patients, I measure subjective complaints, their own physical and mental stress resilience, and perceived recovery. I encourage at least low-intensity physical activity throughout the day (30 minutes of walking) and recommend 7-9 hours of sleep every night for improved sleep homeostasis.
Can PEMF provide enhanced musculoskeletal healing and overall health (biohacking)? Based on my experience, I assert that the answer is yes. This is accomplished through the use of high-intensity pulsing electromagnetic fields, defined by Pat Ziemer of MagnaWave as “a minimum of 250 Gauss, with an average delivery of 2000 Gauss to some who are comfortable with more intensity.” This amount wifi safely pass through a cell membrane and ‘shock’ the structures within. PEMF could accelerate all phases of tissue repair, from initial pain and swelling to blood vessel growth, tissue regeneration, and remodeling.6 The current thinking is that the primary effect of clinically relevant PEMF signals is to increase the rate of Ca2+ binding to Calmodulin, which then catalyzes Nitric Oxides Synthase (eg., eNOS), producing an immediate (within seconds) production of Nitric Oxide, which can orchestrate an anti-inflammatory response via increased blood and lymph flow. Nitric Oxide, in turn, regulates cGMP production (within minutes), which cascades to the appropriate growth factor release dependent on the stage of healing (eg., fibroblast growth factor 2 for angiogenesis).6,8
PEMF seems to stimulate cell repair. When the energy fields pass painlessly into the cells of the area, those cells absorb that energy. In this way, the electromagnetic fields exercise and energize those cells. PEMF practitioners can direct electromagnetic fields towards ‘spot’ areas of a patient’s body that have injuries or other damage, or they can provide ‘broad’ area treatment to improve self-reported psychometric measures of sleep, mood, and quality of life (life satisfaction) without adverse effects. That’s why PEMF sessions are often called “cellular exercise” and are popular among biohackers.
PEMF strength-intensity matters - high-intensity is what gets the results. This means you hear it and you feel it in a muscle contraction. For the acute musculoskeletal patient (sports injury, motor vehicle trauma, etc.) PEMF will enable a healthy inflammatory response — this translates to speeding up the healing process. For patients suffering from chronic pain conditions, such as osteoarthritis, PEMF stimulates the microenvironment and the after-effects of treatment sessions are increased range of motion and decreased pain. In addition to alleviating the pain from the arthritis condition, PEMF also affords chondroprotection, exerts anti-inflammatory action, and helps in bone remodeling. I use PEMF to improve tendonto-bone healing in rotator cuff repair, Achilles tendon injuries, and gluteal tendon tears, because it improves microcirculation. After 8 minutes of low-intensity PEMF, microcirculation improves - meaning the RBCs stop sticking together.3-4 PEMF has been used to affect osteoblast proliferation and is used for fractures. For all the aforementioned conditions, I can blend PEMF, chiropractic care, nutrition, and topical CBD.3-4-7
I am always talking to patients about maintaining healthy body weight, good fats in the diet, low carb choices, anti-inflammatory diet concepts, getting their glucose levels right, and exercise. Part of my biohacking journey with patients is evaluating the effects of different foods, supplements, cold/heat therapy, sleep, hormone balance, digestion, toxic exposure, and aesthetics for healthy living and longevity. I don’t want patients to be within normal ranges - I want them to be in optimal ranges. Using PEMF is another way to get oxygen and water into the cells while C02 and toxins go out of the cells. PEMF will make fish oil work better, which can be tested by a simple off-the-shelf test. I am hoping to compare PEMF to laser for neuropathy, which is contingent upon further work with neuropathy patients; it has been asserted that PEMF treatment must be “high-intensity” in order to be effective for neuropathy. Accordingly, it can be concluded that patients with metabolic syndromes can benefit from PEMF because it increases nitric oxide levels and microcirculation enhancement.
I look forward to learning and hearing from other practitioners using PEMF for brain support, insomnia, PTSD, and even depressive disorders.
Dr. Jeffrey Tucker is the current president of the ACA Rehab Council. The Rehab Council will have its annual conference March 13-15, 2020 in Tempe, AZ. The website to register is www. ACARehabCouncil.org.
Dr. Tucker practices in Los Angeles, CA. His website is www.DrJeffreyTucker.com
References
1. Aaron RK, Ciombor DM, Simon BJ. Treatment of nonunions with electric and electromagnetic fields. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2004;419:21-29.
2. Akai M, Hayashi K. Effect of electrical stimulation on musculoskeletal systems; a meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials. Bioelectromagnetics 2002;23:132-143.
3. PillaAA. Mechanisms of electrochemical phenomena in tissue growth and repair. Bioelectrochem Bioenerg 1974;1:227-243.
4. Bassett CA, Pawluk RJ, Pilla AA. Acceleration of fracture repair by electromagnetic fields. A surgically noninvasive method. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1974;238:242-262
5. Mammi GI, Rocchi R, Cadossi R, Massari L, Traina GC. The electrical stimulation of tibial osteotomies double-blind study. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1993:288:246-253.
6. Bruckdorfer R. The basics about nitric oxide. Mol Aspects Med 2008;26:3-31.
7. Diniz P, Soejima K, Ito G. Nitric oxide mediates the effects ofpidsed electromagnetic field stimulation on the osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. Nitric Oxide 2002;7:18-23.
8. Al-Swayeh OA, Clifford RH, del Soldato P, Moore RK. A comparison of the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activity of nitroaspirin and aspirin. Br J Pharmacol 2000;129:343-350.
9. Aragona SE, Mereghetti G, Lotti J, Vos a A, Lotti T, Canavesi E. Electromagnetic field in control tissue regeneration, pelvic pain, neuro-inflammation and modulation of non-neuronal cells. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2017 APR-JUN;31(2 Suppl. 2):219225.
10. Van Belkurn SM, BoskerFJ, Kortekaas R, Beersma DG, Schoevers RA. Treatment of depression with low-strength transcranial pulsed electromagnetic fields: A mechanistic point of view. Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2016 Nov 3;71:13743.
11. Aragona SE, Mereghetti G, Lotti J, Vosa T, Canavesi E. Electromagnetic field in control tissue regeneration, pelvic pain, neuro-inflammation and modulation of non-neuronal cells. Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2017 APR-JUN;31(2 Suppl. 2):219225.
