Chronic pain impacts millions of people annually, and is one the most common reasons that people seek medical care. High-impact chronic pain limits activities of daily living as well as work on a regular basis. In 2016, one-fifth of adults in the US reported living with chronic pain, and 8% of the population reported high-impact chronic pain.1
Knee pain is the second most common source of chronic pain, behind only back pain. In a twenty-year time span, incidence of knee pain rose by almost 65%. While obesity, which has also risen dramatically, is one reason for the increase, it does not account for the drastic
increase on its own.2
Common medical treatments for knee pain include surgery, osteopathic manipulation, physical therapy, injections and prescription medications. At-home methods of finding relief include ice, rest, elevation and compression, along with over the counter medications. One of the big problems with many of these treatments is that while they may provide symptom relief, they don’t address the source of the pain.
PEMF therapy does both. Relief from pain occurs quickly when using a PEMF mat, but more importantly, treatment promotes healing at a cellular level. When the source of the pain is addressed, patients can move from feeling better short-term to a long term solution for chronic pain.
Using PEMF Mats to manage knee pain can reduce both cost and risk associated with typical pain management treatments.
Where Does Knee Pain Originate?
Swelling, redness, stiffness in the joint, sharp pain with movement, popping sounds, instability when walking…these are just some of the signs of a problem with the knee. Pain in the knee joint can stem from injury, inflammation, arthritis and structural issues. Chronic pain in the knee may also be a result of incorrect pain signals coming from the brain.
Knee injuries are common among both competitive and recreational athletes. The knee is impacted by ligaments, tendons, cartilage and bursae sacs that are either part of the joint structure, or surround the joint to protect it. Common injuries include tears to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), torn meniscus, patellar tendinitis, bursitis, and fractures.
Arthritis is sometimes used as a “catch-all” term, but there are actually more than 100 types to contend with. Some that may be behind pain in the knee joint include osteoarthritis, gout, pseudogout, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Structural issues are often the result of overuse, regular wear and tear, or an underlying injury that hasn’t been addressed. These can include loose cartilage or bone; a change in gait due to pain elsewhere, such as the hip or foot; Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome; and a dislocated kneecap, among other issues.
Research Indicates PEMFs are Effective on Knee Pain
An abundance of research on PEMF therapy has shown that it is a safe, effective method for
dealing with chronic pain. Several clinical trials have been conducted on the impact PEMFs have on knee pain specifically. In 2012, a systematic review published in Rheumatology examined 14 of these trials. The conclusion was that high-quality methodology showed that
PEMF treatment was much more effective than placebo in the treatment of pain related to
osteoarthritis in the knee. These findings held true at both 4 and 8 weeks, and functionality in the knee also improved at the 8-week mark.3
Another trial involving 60 patients with knee OA and mild to moderate levels of pain showed similar results. In the PEMF patients, after one month of treatment their visual analog scale (VAS) scores decreased by 25.5 percent, and one-quarter of these PEMF patients stopped taking prescribed pain medications.4
A clinical trial conducted in 2015 published in the same journal had similar findings. In this study, which involved 60 patients who had knee OA with mild to moderate levels of pain, visual analog scale (VAS) scores decreased by 25.5 percent in the PEMF group after one month of treatment. One-quarter of the subjects who received PEMF therapy stopped taking previously prescribed medications for pain.
Studies have also shown that the PEMF therapy used on the brain can promote entrainment, restoring natural frequencies to the brain and reducing overactive pain signals that result in pain even when no physical source for the pain is present.
Using PEMF Mats to Manage Knee Pain
PEMF therapy sends regular pulsed electromagnetic fields of varying intensity and frequency into the body, restoring natural charge and allowing for repair and rejuvenation of damaged cells. For the treatment of chronic pain, regular use of PEMFs at an appropriate intensity yields best results. PEMF Mats that treat the whole body at once are convenient and effective solutions to the chronic pain problem, particularly since targeting the true source of pain can be difficult.
Using a PEMF whole body mat is simple. The BioBalance PEMF system is an affordable, easy to use option for at home treatment. Simply place the mat on a chair, bed, recliner, couch, floor, or anywhere else you’d like to use it. Lie on the mat and select the appropriate pre-
programmed option.
For more targeted therapy to the knee joint itself, place the small pillow pad applicator on the area to be treated. This applicator can be used simultaneously with the full body mat, or on it’s own before or after full body treatment.
As you lie on the mat, 21 copper coils translate a low voltage signal into 21 pulsating magnetic fields that will gently penetrate the body to produce healing at the cellular level. You may feel a light sensation or feeling of warmth, but most people feel nothing at all.
Daily Therapy is Key to Long Term Pain Relief
Chronic pain requires regular treatment for lasting relief. Just 15-30 minutes of daily treatment can help manage pain without risky procedures or medications that can lead to addiction, internal bleeding, and other harmful side effects.
Depending on the problem causing knee pain, you may need treatments of longer duration. The BioBalance PEMF mat is so safe it can even be used for extended periods of time, such as overnight while you sleep.
This medium-intensity, whole body system offers six preset programs with therapeutic
frequencies ranging from 0.5 Hz to 23 Hz. Some programs also offer a background frequency for optimal benefit.
The BioBalance PEMF mat is a solid investment that allows for flexible, convenient management of both acute and chronic knee pain – and a wide range of other conditions as well! Contact the BioBalance team for more information or to order.
References:
1. Dahlhamer J, Lucas J, Zelaya, C, et al. Prevalence of Chronic Pain and High-Impact
Chronic Pain Among Adults — United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
2018;67:1001–1006. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6736a2external icon
2. Nguyen, U. S., Zhang, Y., Zhu, Y., Niu, J., Zhang, B., & Felson, D. T. (2011). Increasing
prevalence of knee pain and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: survey and cohort data. Annals of
internal medicine, 155(11), 725–732. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-155-11-201112060-
00004
3. Seo Ryang We, Yun Hyung Koog, Kwang-Il Jeong, Hyungsun Wi, Effects of
pulsed electromagnetic field on knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review, Rheumatology, Volume 52, Issue 5, May 2013, Pages 815–824,
https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kes063
4. Bagnato GL, Miceli G, Marino N, Sciortino D, Bagnato GF. Pulsed
electromagnetic fields in knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled,
randomized clinical trial. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2016 Apr;55(4):755-62. doi:
10.1093/rheumatology/kev426. Epub 2015 Dec 24. PMID: 26705327; PMCID:
PMC4795538.