Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy promotes healing and microcirculation of
chronic diabetic foot ulcers: a pilot study.
Author(s): Kwan RL(1), Wong WC, Yip SL, Chan KL, Zheng YP, Cheing GL.
Affiliation(s): Author information:
(1)Rachel Lai-Chu Kwan, MPhil, is a PhD candidate, Department of Rehabilitation
Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Wing-Cheung Wong, MBBS, is the
Chief of Service and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedics &
Traumatology, Kwong Wah Hospital; Siu-Leung Yip, MMedSc, is a Resident,
Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Kwong Wah Hospital; Ka-Lun Chan, MChS,
is the Podiatrist-in-Charge, Department of Podiatry, Kwong Wah Hospital;
Yong-Ping Zheng, PhD, is the Head and Professor, Interdisciplinary Division of
Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; and Gladys Lai-Ying
Cheing, PhD, is Professor and Associate Head, Department of Rehabilitation
Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; all in Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region, China. The authors have disclosed they have no financial
relationships related to this article. Acknowledgment: This project was supported
by the General Research Fund provided by the Research Grants Council of the Hong
Kong SAR Government (grants PolyU 5128/08E and PolyU 5600/11M). Submitted
December 16, 2013; accepted in revised form March 4, 2014.
Publication date & source: 2015, Adv Skin Wound Care. , 28(5):212-9
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy
on promoting the healing and microcirculation of chronic diabetic foot ulcers.
DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on a
homogenous subset of chronic diabetic foot ulcers.
SETTING: Hospital and university.
PATIENTS: Thirteen subjects (7 in the PEMF group and 6 in the control group)
diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and had unsatisfactory healing of ulcer(s) in the
preceding 4 weeks were recruited.
INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were randomly allocated to receive either active PEMF
therapy (duration: 60 minutes; frequency: 12 Hz; intensity: 12 Gauss) or
nonactive PEMF for 14 sessions within 3 weeks.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Assessment on wound closure, wound depth, and
microcirculation were performed at the baseline, end of the treatment period, and
1-month follow-up.
MAIN RESULTS: By the end of the treatment period, there was an 18% decrease in
wound size in the active PEMF group as compared with a 10% decrease in the
control group. The PEMF group demonstrated significant cumulative increase in
cutaneous capillary blood velocity (by 28%) and 14% increase in capillary
diameter. In contrast, the control group showed a decrease in both capillary
blood velocity and diameter.
CONCLUSION: In this study, PEMF therapy seemed to accelerate wound healing and
improve microcirculation.
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