Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36465321›Full record

ArticleRheumatology and immunology research2022

Low-energy Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy Reduces Pain in Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Single-blind Controlled Pilot Study.

Massimo Giovale, Lucia Novelli, Luca Persico, Francesca Motta, Stefano Rampoldi, Rossana Galli, Patrizia Monteforte, Marica Doveri, Gerolamo Bianchi, Carlo Selmi and 1 more

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Rheumatology and immunology research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 27% of its field
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. SIMFER guidelines on physical modalities for chronic primary pain management.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine · 2026
    Guideline
  2. Pooled it
  3. Trial
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Massimo GiovaleDivision of Rheumatology, ASL3 Genovese, Genoa, Italy.
Lucia NovelliRheumatology and Clinical Immunology; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
Luca PersicoDepartment of Economics, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy.
Francesca MottaRheumatology and Clinical Immunology; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
Stefano RampoldiTHS Therapeutic Solutions srl, Milan, Italy.
Rossana GalliDivision of Rheumatology, ASL3 Genovese, Genoa, Italy.
Patrizia MonteforteDivision of Rheumatology, ASL3 Genovese, Genoa, Italy.
Marica DoveriDivision of Rheumatology, ASL3 Genovese, Genoa, Italy.
Gerolamo BianchiDivision of Rheumatology, ASL3 Genovese, Genoa, Italy.
Carlo SelmiRheumatology and Clinical Immunology; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
Luigi Carlo BottaroGeneral Direction, ASL3 Genovese, Genoa, Italy.
Center for Rheumatology · USIRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital · ITTXT e-solutions (Italy) · ITUniversity of Genoa · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: Fibromyalgia symptoms have a significant impact on the quality of life and respond poorly to medications. It has been hypothesized that the use of low-energy pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) induces neuroprotective effects that may interfere with pain perception. We explored the efficacy of PEMF in patients affected by fibromyalgia. Methods: Twenty-one females (median age 59 years, interquartile range [IQR] 16.5) affected by fibromyalgia were randomized to receive pulsed electromagnetic field-triple energy pain treatment (PEMF-TEPT) or placebo at T0 and at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), widespread pain index (WPI), visual analog score (VAS) pain, symptom severity (SS) scale, and short form 36 (SF-36) health survey questionnaire have been evaluated. Results: Patients in the PEMF-TEPT group had a significantly higher reduction of WPI compared to placebo (mean difference -12.90 ± standard deviation [SD] 5.32 vs. -1.91 ± 4.55, difference in difference [DD] of -10.99; Conclusion: In our pilot controlled study, PEMF-TEPT appeared to be safe and improved fibromyalgia symptoms.

Indexed as

diffuse pain syndromefatiguequality of lifewidespread pain

Identifiers

PMID36465321
PMCPMC9524818
OpenAlexW4286646214

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.