ReviewPorto biomedical journal
Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy effectiveness in low back pain: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Review in Porto biomedical journal. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 45 citations in OpenAlex.
- Efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on pain and physical function in patients with non-specific low back pain: a systematic review.Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946) · 2025Pooled it
- The effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for low back pain in China: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.PloS one · 2025Pooled it
- Efficacy and characteristics of physiotherapy interventions in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a systematic review.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2022Pooled it
- Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Affects the Development of Postmenopausal Osteoporotic Women with Vertebral Fractures.BioMed research international · 2021Trial
- Effect of pulsed electromagnetic field on nonspecific low back pain patients: a randomized controlled trial.Brazilian journal of physical therapyTrial
- Therapeutic Magnetic Fields in Oncology: A Systematic Review of Safety and Supportive Clinical Use.Cureus · 2026Review
- The Role of Rehabilitation Program in Managing the Triad of Sarcopenia, Obesity, and Chronic Pain.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Evaluating Noninvasive Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy for Joint and Soft Tissue Pain Management: A Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized Clinical Trial.Pain and therapy · 2025Article
- Review
- The positive effect of pulse electromagnetic field therapy on pain and disability in chronic low back pain: a comparative study.Rheumatology international · 2024Article
- Magnetic therapy in acute and subacute non-specific back pain: Results of an open multicenter study.European journal of translational myology · 2022Article
- Short time effects of a low-frequency, high intensity magnetic field in the treatment of chronic neck and low back pain.AIMS public health · 2022Article
- Evaluation of the Analgesic Efficacy of a Bioelectronic Device in Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain with Neuropathic Component. A Randomized Trial.Journal of clinical medicine · 2021Article
- Review
- Electromagnetic Field Therapy: A Rehabilitative Perspective in the Management of Musculoskeletal Pain - A Systematic Review.Journal of pain research · 2020Review
- Beneficial Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field during Cast Immobilization in Patients with Distal Radius Fracture.BioMed research international · 2020Article
- Article
- Physical Vascular Therapy (BEMER) Affects Heart Rate Asymmetry in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease.In vivo (Athens, Greece)Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 7 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLow back pain is a worldwide prevalent musculoskeletal condition in the general population. In this sense, the pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) therapy has shown significant clinical benefits in several musculoskeletal conditions.
objectiveTo assess the effectiveness of the PEMF therapy in reducing pain and clinical symptomatology in patients with low back pathological conditions.
methodsIt was performed a comprehensive database search using Pubmed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and PEDro databases to assess the effectiveness of the PEMF therapy in reducing pain and clinical symptomatology in patients with low back pathological conditions. The search was performed from January 2005 to August 2015 and conducted by two independent investigators, which scrutinize the reference list of most relevant studies. The methodological quality was assessed by the PEDro scale and the level of evidence was set according Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine scale.
resultsSix studies were eligible inclusion on the qualitative analysis and five into the quantitative analysis, scoring an overall 6.8 points according the PEDro scale. The studies showed heterogeneity concerning the intervention protocols. Nevertheless, the effect sizes' indicated a clear tendency to reduction of the pain intensity favoring the PEMF groups, reaching a minimal clinically important difference.
conclusionPEMF therapy seems to be able to relieve the pain intensity and improve functionality in individuals with low back pain conditions. Further research is needed regarding PEMF effects on the different conditions of low back pain, with standardized protocols, larger samples and adjustment for low back pain confounders in order to achieve stronger conclusions.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.