What is Modern Magnetotherapy


Magnetotherapy termed "modern" means the Low-frequency Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy, shortly also EMF or frequently PMF therapy.

Magnetotherapy is a safe physiatric method in treatment of many diseases. Unfortunately, many people know about the use of permanent magnets only, i.e. static magnetic field.

There is a significiant difference in the way how static and pulsed magnetic fields are used. Long-range experience and many clinical studies confirm, PMF gives more better results.

Pulsed magnetotherapy has had a long history in Europe, namely in the East and Middle Europe, whereas therapy effects of static magnetic fields were researched in the West. In the Czech Republic, for example, the pulsed magnetotherapy is a very popular physiatric method and has become the standard part of therapeutical procedures in the spas, rehabilitation centers, etc.

Modern PMF devices allow to generate various frequencies, modulations, shape of impulses, exposure duration etc. Frequencies used are between 1 and 100 Hz, magnetic flux density being up to 100 mT supremely.


How Magnetotherapy Acts

There are three established physical mechanisms through which pulsed magnetic fields interact with living matter.

1) Magnetic induction
2) Magnetomechanical effects
3) Electronic interactions

Summarizing the data on physiological and pathophysiological response to magnetic field exposures we find that these effects are not specific. We can postulate that magnetic field exhibits the following activities:

1) vasodilatation
2) analgesic action
3) anti-inflammatory action
4) spasmolytical activity
5) healing acceleration
6) anti-oedematous activity

The supposed mechanism of biological actions is described herein. It explains how the magnetotherapy works. It is known that PMF affects cellular level. PMF causes activation of enzymatic processes, activation of the metabolic transfers and functions of cellular membrane. Cellular respiration is activated in the exposed area. PMF produces positive changes in immunological condition of the patient, vasodilatation of the arterial part of capillaries, decreases blood coagulation.

Indications
The following list of PMF applications has been worked out on the basis of published works as well as on experience of professional UNIMAG and THERAMAG users.

Rehabilitation - osteoarthritides of the load bearing joints, spondylitides, osteochondritides, “tennis elbows”, “frozen shoulders“, conditions after distortions, algoneurodystrophic (Sudeck) syndrome, aseptic necroses (e.g. m.Perthes, m.Osgood-Schlatter), ankylosing spondylitis.

Paediatrics - myopathiae, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal amyotrophy, palsies after delivery, sinusitides.

Neurology - pareses of peripheral nerves, postherpetic pains

Dermatology - skin ulcerations of arterial and/or venous origin

Orthopaedics - chronic osteomyelitides, fresh fractures, pseudoarthroses, prolonged fracture healing.

Urology - chronic prostatitis, sexual dysfuntions and dysuric complaints


Counter-indications for magnetotherapy
Absolute - pregnancy, pacemaker, hyperthyreoidosis, suprarenal gland dysfunction, myasthenia gravis, conditions connected with bleeding (mainly bleeding into the GIT), hypothalamic and hypophyseal dysfunctions, active tuberculosis, acute viral diseases, malignancies (even in anamnesis), psychoses.
Relative - neurological diseases with seizures (with regard to applicator's localization), severe mycotic diseases, severe atherosclerosis, menstruation if small pelvis is exposed.
Special attention must be given to patients with hypotension or inclined to hypotension as well as to patients with hypertension. A sudden blood pressure decrease may occur, i.e. vertigo, swoon, etc. This reaction usually disappears within 30 minutes of the exposure and after 5 exposures adaptation sets in.

IMPORTANT !
Magnetotherapy must be understood as a part of complex therapeutic strategy. It is not reasonable to apply it separately, although it separately works. The best results have been achieved if magnetotherapy was incorporated into the complex balneological or rehabilitation care, etc.
There is the only one known incompatibility with other types of therapy, with simultaneous steroid therapy in patients suffering from the multiple sclerosis. On the other hand, due to the mechanism of the action, combination with antibiotics is very suitable as well as with the vasodilatating drugs.