Low-energy pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF)
therapy has been suggested as a promising
therapy to increase microcirculation, which is of great concern in patients with
fibromyalgia. This study evaluated the effectiveness of PEMF
therapy on the treatment of
fibromyalgia. A group of 108 women with
fibromyalgia were allocated to a 12-week treatment period with an active Bio-Electro-Magnetic-Energy-Regulation (BEMER) device and a similar treatment period with an inactive device. Each patient received active and
sham treatments in a random order.
Pain and stiffness were assessed on a visual analog scale (VAS, scale 0-100 mm), and functional status was assessed by the
Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Mean VAS
pain scores before the active and
sham treatment periods were 66 (SD 22) and 63 (SD 22), respectively.
After treatment periods, mean VAS
pain scores had decreased significantly in active treatment, -12, 95% CI [-18, -6], and in
sham treatment, -11, 95% CI [-17, -5]. Similarly, the decrease in stiffness and FIQ index after both treatments was statistically significant. However, per-protocol analysis showed no differences between active and
sham treatments at any of the outcomes. This study demonstrated that low-energy PEMF
therapy was not efficient in reducing
pain and stiffness or in improving functioning in women with
fibromyalgia. Bioelectromagnetics. 39:405-413, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.