PAIN+ CPN

BACKGROUND: Between half and three quarters of the working-age population in today's industrialized globe suffers from lower back pain. The presence of a myofascial trigger point-a hyperirritable painful area comprised of a small number of muscle fibers-identifies mechanical back pain sufferers as suffering from myofascial pain syndrome, a chronic pain disorder. This research objectives to determine whether mechanical back pain patients' pain severity and functional disabilities are influenced by electromagnetic field therapy.

METHODS AND SUBJECTS: Two groups of thirty patients were randomly assigned. The 15 participants in group A underwent conventional physical therapy (including ultrasound, stretches, and strength training for the back muscles), while the 15 participants in group B received a combination of conventional physical therapy and electromagnetic field therapy. Pre- and post-treatment assessments of pain intensity, functional impairment, and lumbar range of motion (including extension, flexion, and right and left side bending) were examined. The variables of interest that were examined at various testing groups and measuring periods were compared using a 2×2 mixed design MANOVA.

RESULTS: After treatment, there was a significant difference in all dependent variables between the two groups in terms of between-subject effects (p <0.05). Group B benefited from a significant decrease in pain, right and left side bending, and function disability, as well as an increase in flexion and extension.

CONCLUSION: Patients suffering from mechanical back pain can find relief from their discomfort and functional impairment through the use of electromagnetic field therapy, according to the current study's conclusions.

Physician rater

This RCT reports a significant reduction in pain, improvement in functional disability, and increase in lumbar range of motion among patients aged 25–45 years with mechanical low-back pain treated with one-month of electromagnetic field therapy (EMF) combined with conventional physical therapy (PT) compared with conventional PT alone. However, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits of EMF should be confirmed with a larger sample size and follow-up.

Physician rater

This RCT is highly relevant to the field of PM&R, especially in the movement toward evidence-based non-invasive tech-integrated pain management strategies. Its novelty lies in refining EMFT’s role, potentially establishing it as a mainstream adjunct in mechanical low-back pain rehabilitation. If the findings are positive, they may influence clinical guidelines, device adoption, and further multicenter PM&R research.

Rehab Clinician (OT/PT) rater

Pain (on VAS) appears to be reported in mm in some tables and in cm in others.

Prof. Mike Poling (4/10/2025 10:05 AM)

The sample size is entirely too small to draw any meaningful conclusions. The effect was significant at P<0.05, but that is a very wide margin. Most medical studies look for P<0.001 and when this is considered, there is no significance in terms of effect difference. This is a classic statistical manipulation to achieve significance and this would be evident if held to the standards use for most medical studies. Other issues with the studies are also present, including errors in the VAS use and selection of the statistical methodology. There will need to be much larger and more stringent studies before this particular modality should be used in a group of patients.

Ms. Heather Taylor (4/10/2025 9:24 AM)

This study is not overly relevant for clinicians in North America. Clinical practice guidelines for chronic low back pain do not advocate using ultrasound or IR therapy (which was used as a control in the study). Also, mechanical low back pain is not a diagnosis, which makes this difficult to assess and reproduce. Using electromagnetic field therapy appears to be helpful in this small study; however, it does little to change treatment protocols.