Publication: Effects of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on fatigue, walking performance, depression, and quality of life in adults with multiple sclerosis: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.
No Thumbnail Available
Identifiers
Date
2022-10-13
Authors
Granja-Domínguez, Anabel
Hochsprung, Anja
Luque-Moreno, Carlos
Magni, Eleonora
Escudero-Uribe, Shahid
Heredia-Camacho, Beatriz
Izquierdo-Ayuso, Guillermo
Heredia-Rizo, Alberto Marcos
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis has a great disability burden. Management of the disease is complex, and patients often seek new conservative approaches. To investigate the effect of low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy, compared to placebo, on the level of fatigue, walking performance, symptoms of depression, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Forty-four adults with RRMS and minimal to significant disability were randomly assigned to a 4-week protocol using a PEMF or a placebo whole-body mat. The PEMF group were initially treated with 15Hz frequency, gradually increased to 30Hz (intensity between 25-35µT). The primary outcome was fatigue, assessed with the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). Secondary measures included walking function (GAITRite system and Timed 25-Foot Walk test), the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life Questionnaire. Data were collected at baseline, after intervention, and at 3-months post-intervention (follow-up). There were no differences between groups for changes in fatigue symptoms from baseline to end of intervention (mean and 95% confidence interval FSS: -0.6, 95%CI: -1.3, 0.1; MFIS: -5.4, 95% CI: -15.1, 4.4) or at follow-up (FSS: -0.6, 95% CI: -1.4, 0.2; MFIS: -2.1, 95% CI: -10.9, 6.8). Similarly, both groups did not differ for any of the secondary outcomes at post-intervention or follow-up. Low-frequency PEMF therapy is no more effective than placebo to produce changes in fatigue, gait performance, severity of depression, and QOL in people with RRMS and minimal to significant disability.
Description
MeSH Terms
Adult
Humans
Quality of Life
Multiple Sclerosis
Electromagnetic Fields
Depression
Fatigue
Walking
Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting
Humans
Quality of Life
Multiple Sclerosis
Electromagnetic Fields
Depression
Fatigue
Walking
Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting
DeCS Terms
CIE Terms
Keywords
Fatigue, Magnetic field therapy, Neurologic gait disorders, Placebo effect, Quality of life, Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis