How Does PEMF Help RA
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy shows therapeutic potential for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through multiple biological mechanisms that target inflammation, immune dysfunction, and joint damage.
How do I know it works? My daughter has RA and it is very painful. And she suffered for years until I found this device’
It has been a lifesaver. She uses it every day to reduce pain, stiffness, and damage to joints. She says it is a lifesaver. To see the PEMF mat she uses, click here
Here’s how it works:
Anti-Inflammatory Effects
PEMF reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines while boosting anti-inflammatory mediators:
- IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α: Levels decrease by up to 47% in synovial tissue and blood13
- Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2): Production is suppressed, reducing pain signaling1
- IL-10: Anti-inflammatory cytokine increases, promoting immune balance13
This cytokine modulation occurs through PEMF’s influence on calcium signaling pathways and plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase activity, which regulates intracellular calcium levels critical for immune cell activation1.
Bone and Cartilage Protection
PEMF preserves joint integrity by:
- Reducing RANKL/RANK signaling: Lowers osteoclast formation by 35-50%, preventing bone erosion3
- Inhibiting IL-6R and TNFR1: Decreases cellular responsiveness to inflammatory cytokines that drive cartilage breakdown3
- Stimulating chondrocytes: Promotes cartilage repair in animal models26
Immune System Modulation
The therapy targets mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and pericytes to:
- Stabilize blood vessels: Restores microvascular homeostasis in synovial tissue1
- Suppress synovial fibroblasts: Reduces production of VEGF and TGF-β, slowing joint lining thickening1
- Regulate macrophages: Shifts from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotypes1
Angiogenesis Regulation
PEMF counteracts abnormal blood vessel growth in joints by:
- Inhibiting VEGF: Reduces levels by 30-40% in RA models13
- Slowing endothelial cell proliferation: Demonstrated in human umbilical vein cells1
- Modulating vessel tone: Balances vasodilation/constriction based on disease state1
Clinical Outcomes
Human trials report:
- 47% improvement in pain scores and joint mobility after 1 month of treatment1
- Reduced morning stiffness and swelling in 60-70% of patients6
- Effects comparable to NSAIDs without gastrointestinal side effects57
While most studies show benefits, some report variable responses depending on PEMF parameters (frequency: 5-75 Hz, intensity: 10-20 Gauss) and treatment duration24. The therapy appears most effective when combined with conventional RA medications36.
Research – PEMF treatment for Arthritis
Low frequency pulsed electromagnetic field–a viable alternative therapy for arthritis.
“The analysis of various studies (animal models of arthritis, cell culture systems, and clinical trials) reporting the use of PEMF for arthritis cure has conclusively shown that PEMF not only alleviates the pain in the arthritis condition but it also affords chondroprotection, exerts anti-inflammatory action and helps in bone remodeling and this could be developed as a viable alternative for arthritis therapy.”
Department of Biotechnology, Central Leather Research Institute, Adyar, Chennai 600 020, India.
Ganesan K1, Gengadharan AC, Balachandran C, Manohar BM, Puvanakrishnan R.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20329696
Optimization of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy for management of arthritis in rats.
“Histological studies confirmed reduction in inflammatory cells infiltration, hyperplasia, and hypertrophy of cells lining synovial membrane. PEMF was also shown to have a membrane-stabilizing action by significantly inhibiting the rate of release of beta-glucuronidase from lysosomal-rich and sub-cellular fractions. The results indicated that PEMF could be developed as a potential therapy in the treatment of arthritis in humans.”
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Madras Veterinary College, Vepery, Chennai, India.
Kumar VS1, Kumar DA, Kalaivani K, Gangadharan AC, Raju KV, Thejomoorthy P, Manohar BM, Puvanakrishnan R.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15887257
Pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation affects BMD and local factor production of rats with disuse osteoporosis
“The results demonstrate that PEMF stimulation can efficiently suppress bone mass loss. Therefore, we conclude that PEMF may affect bone remodeling by promoting TGF-beta1 secretion and inhibiting IL-6 expression.”
Department of Orthopaedics, Third Affiliated Daping Hospital, Research Institute of Surgery, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19670410
Pulsed electromagnetic fields reduce acute inflammation in the injured rat-tail intervertebral disc.
“These data demonstrate that previously reported anti-inflammatory effects of PEMF on disc cells carry over to the in vivo situation, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits.”
Department of Neurological Surgery University of California San Francisco San Francisco California.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery University of California San Francisco California.
Orthofix Inc. Lewisville Texas.
Chan AK, Tang X, Mummaneni NV, Coughlin D, Liebenberg E, Ouyang A, Dudli S, Lauricella M, Zhang N, Waldorff EI, Ryaby JT, Lotz JC.
Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) treatment reduces the expression of genes associated with disc degeneration in human intervertebral disc cells.
“These results demonstrate that IVD cells are responsive to PEMF and motivate future studies to determine whether PEMF may be helpful for patients with IVD degeneration.”
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, 513 Parnassus Ave, S-1161, Box 0514, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
Orthofix, Inc., 3451 Plano Parkway, Lewisville, TX 75056, USA.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, 513 Parnassus Ave, S-1161, Box 0514, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
Miller SL, Coughlin DG, Waldorff EI, Ryaby JT2, Lotz JC.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields Reduce Interleukin-6 Expression in Intervertebral Disc Cells Via Nuclear Factor-κβ and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase p38 Pathways.
“Our data indicate that the previously reported inhibitory effect of PEMF treatment on disc inflammation is mediated by NF-κβ and phosphorylated p38-MAPK signaling pathways. These results further establish PEMFs anti-inflammatory activity, and may inform potential future clinical uses for management of inflammation associated with disc degeneration.”
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
Orthofix Inc., Lewisville, TX.
Tang X, Coughlin D, Ballatori A, Berg-Johansen B, Waldorff EI, Zhang N, Ryaby JT, Aliston T, Lotz JC.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31689248
Circadian rhythm affects the preventive role of pulsed electromagnetic fields on ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats.
“Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) have been proven effective in the prevention of osteoporosis both experimentally and clinically. Chronotherapy studies have shown that circadian rhythm (CR) plays an important role in the occurrence, development, and treatment of several diseases. CR has also been recognized as an essential feature of bone metabolism. Therefore, it is of therapeutic significance to investigate the impact of CR on the efficacy of PEMF in the prevention of osteoporosis.”
“The results indicated that CR was an important factor determining the preventive effect of PEMF on osteoporosis and PEMF exposure in the daytime presented better stimulus efficacy in rats. The findings might be helpful for the efficacious use of PEMF mediations, evaluation of PEMF action, and experimental design in future studies of the biological effect of electromagnetic fields.”
Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Fourth Military Medical University, 17 West Changle Road, Xi’an 710032, China.