Abstract
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.
CONCLUSIONS
Therapies targeting skeletal muscle hold major advantages over other tissues given muscle’s broad systemic ramifications. Here we provide initial findings that brief weekly PEMF exposure of the upper limb of humans produces clinically relevant improvements in pain, mobility, and indications of lean muscle mass, in an age-dependent manner. In accordance with previously published animal preclinical [24] and human clinical [25] studies employing analogous PEMF paradigms, adipose tissue homeostasis was particularly responsive to PEMF intervention. Most notably, the older subjects exhibited the most significant improvements in mobility and body composition. Although the results reported here are very promising, they remain to be substantiated and broadened in randomized controlled clinical trials.
Venugobal S, Tai YK, Goh J, Teh S, Wong C, Goh I, Maier AB, Kennedy BK, Franco-Obregón A. Brief, weekly magnetic muscle therapy improves mobility and lean body mass in older adults: a Southeast Asia community case study. Aging (Albany NY). 2023 Mar 19;15(6):1768-1790. doi: 10.18632/aging.204597. Epub 2023 Mar 19. PMID: 36934330; PMCID: PMC10085623.
Link to full article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10085623/
