PEMF therapy is an up-and-coming therapy that, despite over 40 years of use, is just beginning to enjoy a wider range of use in western medicine. PEMF therapy has been implicated as a potential aid for conditions as diverse as mental health support and arthritis treatment, and has continually shown promise as a treatment modality for more complex and treatment resistant issues. To fully comprehend the scope of PEMF’s abilities and how a PEMF machine might work for you, a brief history of the machine and a breakdown of its components is in order.
PEMF Therapy: A Brief History and Review
The term “PEMF therapy” stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy. As its name suggests, this particular form of therapy is characterized by the delivery of pulses of electromagnetic energy. These pulses force energy into the body’s cells at varying intensities and frequencies, which allows the body to carry out its normal functions at a heightened pace and with greater efficacy. At first glance, doing so many not seem like a substantial change, but in people with chronic illness, acute injuries, or acute illnesses, additional energy is required by the body, in order to divert plenty of attention to the body’s healing pathways and practices.
PEMF therapy has been linked to magnet therapy, in part because it operates in a similar way. Just as magnet therapy utilizes external forces to manipulate and change internal bodily components, PEMF therapy uses external energy to influence the availability of energy internally. Initially steeped in this type of therapy, PEMF began dabbling in electrical impulses in the late 19th century, including Nikola Tesla’s work with electrical coils. These coils eventually came to be included in medical and therapeutic applications, and culminated in the creation of PEMF therapy machines.
So, where does waveform come in?
What Is a Waveform?
Waveform is often mistakenly likened to a wave as a whole, which describes something closer to the frequency of electrical energy. Waveform literally describes the form a wave takes on. The three most common waveforms found in PEMF therapy are the sine (a shape seen on heart monitors), the saw tooth (a shape seen on the sharp edges of saws, hence its name), and the square waveform (a waveform that takes on a square or rectangular shape). These waveforms do not correspond to specific intensities or frequencies, but instead identify the manner in which a pulse of electromagnetic energy enters and leaves the body. In a square waveform, for instance, a pulse of energy enters the body quickly, persists, then exits. In a saw tooth wave, a pulse of energy enters the body gradually, reaches a pike, and drops immediately. Finally, a sine wave enters the body on a relatively steep climb, enjoys a brief tenure in the body, and drops out fo the body again.
These waveforms can contribute to the efficacy of a machine, it is thought, because they determine the amount of time a singular pulse is in the body. Some have postulated that the square waveform is the most effective because it stretches out the pulse of energy most substantially in the body, but others have asserted that the gradual climb found in saw tooth and sine waveforms are similarly useful.
Waveform and Research: The NASA Study
NASA is one of the foremost authorities on PEMF therapy, in terms of research: to evaluate the ability of different therapies to successfully treat astronauts returning from space, NASA spent four years going over a variety of alternative therapy methods, including PEMF. To determine how effective PEMF therapy was, NASA engaged all different types of PEMF therapy, eventually determining that low-intensity and low-frequency PEMF therapy was the most effective in treating the ailments displayed by returned astronauts. Additionally, NASA determined that the square waveform and saw tooth waveforms were the most effective in treating the maladies covered by the study. Although this seems like a powerful bit of evidence suggesting the use of a square waveform as the best possible option, the truth is not quite so cut-and-dried.
Determining Waveform Efficacy in PEMF Machines
Although many have pointed to the success of a square waveform in NASA’s PEMF therapy research, there are also research studies demonstrating PEMF efficacy using the sine and saw tooth waveforms. While it can be tempting to select a PEMF machine based on the claims made by different PEMF therapy machines, any company that claims to have the foremost technology in the industry may be cause for concern, as these are often marketing claims designed to obscure the basics of PEMF therapy, and are not substantiated by legitimate research efforts. When selecting a machine, evaluate all components of the machine, read reviews, and compare prices and available components, to make an informed decision regarding your health. The NASA studies did not evaluate all of the applications of PEMF therapy, and therefore did not definitively identify the ideal waveform to use.
What to Look for in PEMF Waveform
There are many factors to take into consideration when looking to purchase a PEMF machine, not the least of which is waveform. Discussed far less often than its “peers,” intensity and frequency, waveform is also an important component of PEMF therapy, and is used to determine how effective a PEMF machine is. When looking for a specific PEMF machine and its corresponding waveform, the safest consensus seems to be this: stick to the current evidence. As it stands, the most common waveforms encouraged by PEMF machine researchers are the sine, saw tooth, and square waveforms, all of which have seen substantial use in the industry.
Waveforms that step outside of these norms may not be problematic, but do not possess the same body of evidence encouraging their use. Many manufacturers of PEMF therapy machines will assert that their unique or patented waveforms are uniquely equipped to deliver PEMF therapy, but current research does not support this claim, and PEMF machines that hold fast to research-based design will typically utilize one of the three aforementioned waveforms, or will allow users to select the waveform using a control box. If you are hoping to accomplish a specific task with your PEMF machine, selecting a machine with a static waveform may be preferred, but if you are hoping to secure a device that treats multiple ailments or acts as a general wellness support, a variable-waveform machine might be preferable.