Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy applies pulsing magnetic fields to the body. Because PEMF devices are available for home use, you don’t need to book trips to a clinic to use one. PEMF therapy can be used whenever, wherever it’s convenient for you.
Many people use PEMF alongside their regular exercise and wellness routines.
But what, exactly IS pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy? How does it work?
PEMF therapy in a nutshell
Just from the name, it’s clear that PEMF therapy uses magnetic pulses. But how do these magnetic fields interact with the body? Your body has electric charges, and a changing magnetic field induces small electrical currents in tissue.
Your body contains trillions of cells, and each one relies on electrical charges to do its work.
Healthy cells have a balance between both positive and negative charges. As these charges flow between cells, electrical currents are generated, stimulating cells so that positive charges can enter through open ion channels. When nerves are stimulated, as the inside of the nerve or muscle cell becomes more positively charged, electrical currents become electrical pulses called “action potentials.” The signals travel throughout the body through the nervous system, cause muscles to do their work and generally communicate throughout the body, balancing various body functions.
When this flow of electrical currents is disrupted, cells are damaged. Disruption may be from trauma, disease or toxins. Cells are then unable to function as efficiently as they should. Researchers have studied how pulsed electromagnetic fields interact with these charges in cells.
Unlike x-ray machines, which produce ionizing radiation, PEMF devices use low-frequency, non-ionizing fields. PEMF isn’t right for everyone, though, so read the contraindications and cautions before you start.
What researchers have studied
Researchers have studied PEMF in a wide range of areas, from acute injuries to long-term pain. Results vary between conditions and devices, much of the research is early, and none of it used the FlexPulse.
Reviews of placebo-controlled trials report short-term improvements in knee osteoarthritis and lower-back pain, although results are mixed, and a trial in painful diabetic neuropathy found no advantage over a sham device. Prescription PEMF bone-growth stimulators are also used by doctors for non-union fractures.
Lab studies have looked at how PEMFs affect inflammatory signals in cells, but that hasn’t been shown in people using a home device.
Studies on PEMF and blood flow are small, and their results conflict.
PEMF systems range from high-intensity clinical machines to lower-intensity portable devices. PEMF devices like the FlexPulse are budget friendly, versatile, portable and non-invasive.
PEMF at home and on the go
With portable devices like the FlexPulse, a session can last from just a few minutes to continuous overnight use, depending on the program you choose.
The FlexPulse was developed based NASA stem cell research done more than 15 years ago and decades of research on brain entrainment and neurofeedback. Its programs include frequencies in the ranges of different brainwaves.
The FlexPulse, which uses a rechargeable battery, has a peak intensity of up to 200 Gauss. With ten programs with frequencies ranging from 3 Hz to 1000 Hz, the FlexPulse fits a wide range of daily routines. The wearable system comes with two small pad applicators. It’s lightweight and portable, making it easy to use anytime, anywhere. The system comes with a 30 -day satisfaction guarantee and a 2-year International warranty on the controller.
