TY - JOUR
T1 - A Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy Device for Non-Specific Low Back Pain
T2 - A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
AU - Lisi, Anthony J.
AU - Scheinowitz, Mickey
AU - Saporito, Richard
AU - Onorato, Anthony
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, The Author(s).
PY - 2019/6/1
Y1 - 2019/6/1
N2 - Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) poses a significant burden of disease worldwide, and identifying safe and effective non-pharmacologic treatment options for LBP is a research priority. The aim of this study was to pilot a clinical trial of a portable pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy device for subjects with mixed duration non-specific LBP. Methods: This work was a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, parallel-group study conducted at a chiropractic school outpatient clinic. The primary end point was functional capacity measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Analysis was conducted on the intent-to-treat population and as a trend of change in pain scores over time using the Freidman test of repeated measures. Results: Forty-two participants were randomized to receive usual care plus PEMF therapy or usual care plus sham, and 25 completed the study. Significant improvements in ODI scores from baseline to week 6 were reported in the experimental group (χ2 = 14.68, p < 0.001, compared with patients in the sham group, χ2 = 4.00, p = 0.135, n.s.). This difference persisted at week-12 follow-up. Adverse events were rare and mild. Conclusion: It is feasible to conduct a clinical trial of a PEMF therapy device for non-specific LBP. This work shows that the device was safe and provides preliminary evidence of effectiveness in improving function in patients with non-specific LBP. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT03053375. Funding: Aerotel Ltd.
AB - Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) poses a significant burden of disease worldwide, and identifying safe and effective non-pharmacologic treatment options for LBP is a research priority. The aim of this study was to pilot a clinical trial of a portable pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy device for subjects with mixed duration non-specific LBP. Methods: This work was a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, parallel-group study conducted at a chiropractic school outpatient clinic. The primary end point was functional capacity measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Analysis was conducted on the intent-to-treat population and as a trend of change in pain scores over time using the Freidman test of repeated measures. Results: Forty-two participants were randomized to receive usual care plus PEMF therapy or usual care plus sham, and 25 completed the study. Significant improvements in ODI scores from baseline to week 6 were reported in the experimental group (χ2 = 14.68, p < 0.001, compared with patients in the sham group, χ2 = 4.00, p = 0.135, n.s.). This difference persisted at week-12 follow-up. Adverse events were rare and mild. Conclusion: It is feasible to conduct a clinical trial of a PEMF therapy device for non-specific LBP. This work shows that the device was safe and provides preliminary evidence of effectiveness in improving function in patients with non-specific LBP. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT03053375. Funding: Aerotel Ltd.
KW - Electromagnetic fields
KW - Low back pain
KW - Pilot randomized controlled trial
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85091708415&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s40122-019-0119-z
DO - 10.1007/s40122-019-0119-z
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AN - SCOPUS:85091708415
SN - 2193-8237
VL - 8
SP - 133
EP - 140
JO - Pain and Therapy
JF - Pain and Therapy
IS - 1
ER -