You may have heard about PEMF therapy also known as Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy. In fact, this is probably what brought you to this page. However, you may still have some questions about PEMF machines such as how do they work? What is their origin? How are they used today? Read on to find out more with our top 10 facts on PEMF machines.
1. PEMF Machines Work With The Body
PEMF machines produce pulsed magnetic fields that pass through the body. Our entire body is composed of minuscule cells that compose our organs, skin, and bones. A healthy cell has both negative and positive charges in the membrane that facilitate the exchange of calcium, sodium, and potassium. Whether due to trauma, disease, or toxins cells that are damaged lose the ability to function properly. Researchers have studied how PEMFs interact with these charges in cells.
2. PEMF Machines Have Different Frequencies
What makes one PEMF Machine different from others is the frequencies it operates on. The FlexPulse G2 has 10 programs, each with its own frequency, from 3 Hz to 1000 Hz.
3. The Human Body Uses Electricity to Send Signals
The outside of our cells is positively charged while the inside is negatively charged. Electrical currents are created when the flow of charges moves across the membrane of the cells. PEMF machines use pulsed magnetic fields, which induce small electrical currents in the body’s tissues.
4. PEMF Fields Are Non-Ionizing
Unlike X-rays, which are ionizing radiation, PEMF machines produce low-frequency, non-ionizing fields. PEMF isn’t right for everyone, though, so read our contraindications and cautions before you start.
5. PEMF Therapy Has Been Used for 60 Years
After a Columbia University study that was encouraged by NASA, the FDA approved a prescription PEMF bone-growth stimulator in 1979, for fractures that had not joined (non-union fractures). PEMF devices have been in use for over 60 years, and they have recently captured the spotlight again in the US.
6. PEMF Therapy Was Tested By NASA
NASA originally began researching PEMF after astronauts showed bone loss, fatigue and other symptoms immediately after short trips to space. Scientists discovered that being outside of the Earth’s beneficial magnetic field caused many of these symptoms. NASA ultimately studied the effects of PEMF on the growth of mammalian tissue for four years.
7. PEMF Machines Originated In Europe
The basis of all modern PEMF Machines was created by Nikola Tesla. However, the first PEMF machines appeared in the Czech Republic. By the 1980s they were introduced to Hungary and by the 1990s they could be found all over Europe.
8. The First PEMF Machine Was Huge
The first PEMF machines were large enough for a human to stand inside of them. They consisted of a piece of equipment called the Helmholtz coil which was a futuristic-looking machine that produced a homogeneous zone of magnetic fields. Today PEMF machines look like a slightly thicker yoga mat.
9. Some PEMF Devices Are Regulated by the FDA
Certain prescription PEMF and magnetic stimulation devices have been approved or cleared by the FDA for specific medical uses, starting with bone-growth stimulators in 1979. The FlexPulse is not one of them: like all FlexPulse products, it has not been evaluated by the FDA.
10. Animals Can Use Them Too
PEMF machines are not just for humans: veterinarians use them too. In fact, veterinarians working with racehorses were among the first professionals to use PEMF.
Conclusions
PEMF machines have many things going for them. They have been around for many decades, they are drug-free and non-invasive, and they have been gaining popularity. FlexPulse is lightweight, small, and portable when compared to larger devices. It is also more affordable than going in for regular PEMF sessions at a clinic. If you are ready to get your own FlexPulse device or have any questions about it contact us. We are always here to help and answer any questions you might have.
