Magnetic Field Therapy Versus Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve-stimulation in Knee Osteoarthritis

Magnetic Field Therapy Versus Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve-stimulation in Knee Osteoarthritis: a Head-to-head Trial

The effectiveness of PEMF in improving physical function among Osteoarthritic (OA) patients remains a topic of debate, leading to the American College of Rheumatology not yet endorsing its use in OA treatment. Therefore, it's essential to investigate PEMF therapy's efficacy in alleviating joint pain, stiffness, and enhancing physical function in knee OA patients Our study objectives were to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of PEMF therapy and to compare its efficacy with TENS in knee OA management.

Inclusion Criteria:

• We included patients who had knee pain due to knee OA diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology including:

• Knee pain AND presence of at least three of the following 6 criteria:

  • Age > 50 years
  • Morning stiffness < 30 minutes
  • Crepitus during movement
  • Periarticular bone pain
  • Periarticular bone hypertrophy
  • Absence of increased local warmth.

Exclusion Criteria:

• For both groups, we did not include:

  • Patients with a pacemaker, implantable defibrillator, cochlear implant, or any metal implant contraindicating MRI (knee prosthesis, hip prosthesis, etc.).
  • Pregnant women
  • Patients with an active infection
  • Profound hypoesthesia or thermoalgic sensitivity disorder
  • Poorly vascularized areas: arteritis, phlebitis, ischemia
  • Patients on anti-vitamin K treatment or with a coagulation disorder. Patients with long-term corticosteroid therapy or having a total knee replacement, those who have received therapies for knee osteoarthritis including intra-articular corticosteroid injection or viscosupplementation in the last 4 months, and Patients with knee pain of non-osteoarthritic origin were also not included in the study.