As a physical therapy clinic owner, you constantly seek new ways to help your patients recover and improve their quality of life. However, patients with chronic conditions like osteoarthritis present a unique challenge. Their condition is often progressive and becomes worse with age, preventing them from a lifestyle conducive to their health and well-being.
One promising treatment option is pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy. We sometimes refer to this method as “energy medicine” due to its noninvasive approach. Let’s break down the details of treating osteoarthritis using PEMF and how it could benefit your physical therapy clinic.
What Is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative condition affecting skeletal joints and soft tissues like cartilage. Over time, the soft tissues break down, causing pain, stiffness and bone spurs. The degeneration limits a person’s range of motion and decreases their quality of life.
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis often include:
- Increasingly limited range of motion
- Pain at the affected joint
- Popping or crackling when the joint moves
- Grating sensations as the bones rub together
Although osteoarthritis has no specific cause, factors like lifestyle habits, genetics, previous injuries and age often influence the development of the condition.
Utilizing PEMF in Your Physical Therapy Clinic
PEMF directs gentle pulses of electricity to the body’s magnetic field. This pulse makes ions and electrolytes move through the body quicker than they would alone. The electrolytes and ions re-energize various cells of the body.
When patients undergo PEMF, they may experience:
An investigative article published in 2018 found that 30-minute sessions of PEMF treatment offered effective relief and improvement for osteoarthritis in the knee or hand. The investigators found these short sessions to have reasonable clinical efficacy, which can give you confidence you can use this machine safely in your clinic.
Treating Osteoarthritis Using PEMF
PEMF can assist with numerous conditions that cause chronic pain and limit a patient’s mobility. However, regularly treating osteoarthritis using PEMF works wonders for some patients.
If you think of cells as tiny batteries, long-term PEMF treatments are like giving them a charge, helping them work better and grow. However, short sessions don’t have the same charging effect. PEMF helps the cells in our joints (known as chondrocytes) to grow, both in healthy individuals and in those with osteoarthritis. When researchers conducted studies on osteoarthritis patients treated with PEMF, some of them were able to generate healthier joint cells and produce helpful proteins that aid in joint repair. While more testing still needs to be conducted, many patients exhibited reduced inflammation and promising results consistently using PEMF.
So, How Exactly Does PEMF Treat Osteoarthritis?
Drug-Free and Noninvasive Approach
Medications and invasive treatments like surgeries come with their own sets of risks that could further limit a patient’s quality of life. Patients who can’t undergo surgical procedures or have sensitivities to prescriptions may benefit from this option.
Influence of Brain Activity
According to the article, PEMF therapy may influence how the brain interprets or processes pain signals. This could be through modifying synaptic activity, altering neurotransmitter levels, or affecting other cellular processes within the neurons. By doing so, the brain might "read" or interpret the pain stimuli in a diminished or different way.
Cellular Rehabilitation
Electromagnetic energy stimulates cell metabolism. The cells remove waste products more efficiently and heal quicker. This effect may improve a patient’s energy level and reduce inflammation in the affected joints.
How PEMF Benefits Your Physical Therapy Clinic
Clinics that offer PEMF therapy reap unique benefits. They attract more patients for the following reasons:
Cash-Based Clinic Service
Patients can pay for the service with cash; they don’t have to rely on their insurance companies for referrals. This therapy empowers them to control their well-being. By not having to navigate insurance approvals or referrals, patients have more direct control over their care choices. This level of autonomy can be psychologically empowering for patients, allowing them to make decisions that they feel are best for their health.
PT Clinic Differentiator
Many clinics don’t offer PEMF as a therapy service. If your clinic provides it, it stands apart from other nearby clinics. Having unique services can be a significant advantage in a competitive healthcare market. It might draw patients specifically seeking out PEMF therapy or those who've heard of its potential benefits.
Versatility in Treatment Options
PEMF can be used as a primary treatment modality or as an adjunct to other treatments. This versatility allows therapists to tailor treatments according to individual patient needs or preferences.
Is PEMF Right for Your Clinic? Contact NeuPTtech To Learn More
Treating osteoarthritis using PEMF is a fantastic way to demonstrate your care. You’ll also enable your staff to provide more diverse treatment options to the people who need them most. Reach out to NeuPTtech to help you improve your clinic with innovative technology, tools and training.
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