12-Week Open-Label Study: PEMF Cuts Arthritis Pain 20 % & Inflammation 48 %
A new investigator-initiated pilot at the Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences & Research shows that regular pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy can meaningfully reduce knee-osteoarthritis symptoms in just 12 weeks. Ten adults with early-stage bilateral knee osteoarthritis completed a 12-week PEMF programme at Apollo Institute’s outpatient department, receiving clinic-based 1-hour PEMF sessions during a programme lasting up to 12 weeks. By week 12:
• Pain (VAS) fell from 5.4 ± 2.2 → 4.3 ± 1.8 (-20 %)
• Stiffness (WOMAC) dropped from 3.0 ± 1.5 → 2.5 ± 1.3 (-17 %)
• Knee flexion improved from 116 ± 6° → 132 ± 6° (+16°)
• C-reactive protein (CRP) declined from 4.5 ± 0.7 → 2.3 ± 0.8 mg Lβ»¹ (-48 %)
A 48 % drop in C-reactive protein (CRP) indicates far less systemic inflammation—one reason these results matter well beyond pain relief. (See hero infographic: “PEMF arthritis study pain, stiffness, CRP chart.”)
Study Snapshot
• Design & type: 12-week, prospective open-label pilot study
• Setting: Out-patient department, Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Hyderabad, India.
• Participants: 10 adults (6 women, 4 men; mean age ≈ 55 y) diagnosed with bilateral, early-stage knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren–Lawrence grade II).
• PEMF device: Sentient Element Classic dual-coil system delivering symmetrical biphasic pulses at 72 – 78 Hz, peak coil current ≈ 22.5 A.
• Treatment schedule:. 1-hour supervised sessions delivered over a programme lasting ≤ 12 weeks.
• Adjunct care kept stable: routine collagen, glucosamine-MSM-Boswellia, and plant-based calcium supplements; no new analgesics, physiotherapy, or injections introduced during the study.
• Primary end-points:
• Pain (10-cm VAS) • Stiffness & physical function (WOMAC) • Active knee flexion ROM (goniometer) • Inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity CRP & ESR).
• Exploratory end-point: MRI T2 cartilage mapping in the first three participants to probe chondroprotective effects.
• Statistics: Mean ± SD; paired two-tailed t-tests with Ξ± = 0.05; effect sizes calculated by Cohen’s d using IBM SPSS v11.0.
• Ethical approval: Apollo Institute IRB protocol AIMSR/IRB/RC/2023/06/016; written informed consent obtained from all volunteers.
Why These Results Matter — Translating Data into Daily Life
Osteoarthritis is the leading global cause of disability after age 50, and knees bear the brunt. Pharmacologic mainstays—NSAIDs, intra-articular steroids, hyaluronic acid—carry GI, metabolic, or procedural risks, while knee replacement remains costly and invasive. Against that backdrop, the Apollo pilot is noteworthy for the following reasons:
• Less pain = more freedom. A one-point drop on the VAS often moves patients from moderate to mild pain—turning a nagging ache into a background sensation that doesn’t dictate every decision.
• Stiffness relief greases the morning routine. Cutting stiffness 17 % means shorter “warm-up” times after waking and less joint locking after long car rides.
• +16° of flexion is practical. Every 5–10° matters: tying shoes without grimacing, squatting to pick up a toddler, or sitting cross-legged for meditation.
• CRP is bigger than knees. High CRP accelerates cartilage loss and predicts heart-disease risk. Nearly halving CRP in 12 weeks rivals the impact of intensive diet programs or moderate-dose statins—without pills.
• Drug-free adjunct. Patients kept their existing NSAID or supplement routines; PEMF simply layered on top, avoiding side-effects like gastric upset or steroid flare rebound.
Methods
Participants & Ethics
Adults aged 45–65 with bilateral early-stage knee OA and baseline VAS ≥ 4/10 were screened. Exclusions: rheumatoid arthritis, pacemakers, recent injections, pregnancy, or BMI > 35 kg mβ»². All volunteers signed informed consent; ethical clearance was granted under protocol AIMSR/IRB/RC/2023/06/016.
Device Parameters
Sentient Element Classic delivers symmetrical biphasic PEMF pulses at 72–78 Hz with a peak coil current of ≈ 22.5 A. The PEMF therapy has been delivered at a frequency of 72–78 Hz and an intensity of 22.5 Amp.
Session Protocol
Participants lay supine on an exam couch; coils were secured around each knee with cotton spacers.
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Total course: ≤ 12 weeks
Adjunct Care
No new physiotherapy, intra-articular injections, or analgesic changes were permitted. Participants maintained daily cartilage-support supplements (collagen powder; glucosamine–chondroitin–MSM with Boswellia; plant-based calcium) to mirror real-world multimodal practice while keeping variables stable.
Outcome Measures & Timing
|
Time-point
|
Pain (VAS)
|
WOMAC
|
ROM
|
ESR & CRP
|
MRI T2*
|
|
Week 0 (baseline)
|
β
|
β
|
β
|
β
|
β
|
|
Week 1
|
—
|
β
|
β
|
—
|
—
|
|
Week 6
|
—
|
β
|
β
|
—
|
—
|
|
Week 12 (final)
|
β
|
β
|
β
|
β
|
β*
|
*MRI cartilage mapping performed on first three participants for exploratory chondroprotection signals.
Statistical Analysis
Data are reported as mean ± SD. Paired two-tailed t-tests assessed week 0 vs week 12 differences; Cohen’s d quantified effect size. All calculations used IBM SPSS v11.
Results
Aggregate Outcomes
|
Measure
|
Week 0
|
Week 12
|
Ξ
|
% Change
|
Cohens d
|
|
Pain (VAS 0–10)
|
5.4 ± 2.2
|
4.3 ± 1.8
|
-1.1
|
-20 %
|
0.57
|
|
Stiffness (WOMAC 0–4)
|
3.0 ± 1.5
|
2.5 ± 1.3
|
-0.5
|
-17 %
|
0.38
|
|
Knee Flexion (°)
|
116 ± 6
|
132 ± 6
|
+16
|
+14 %
|
1.99
|
|
CRP (mg Lβ»¹)
|
4.5 ± 0.7
|
2.3 ± 0.8
|
-2.2
|
-48 %
|
2.40
|
|
ESR (mm hβ»¹)
|
11.2 ± 1.6
|
8.3 ± 1.1
|
-2.9
|
-25 %
|
1.82
|
Individual Highlights
• SL-3 (61 F): VAS 10 → 4.5; flexion 110° → 128°;
• SL-5 (60 M): CRP 5.10 → 1.97 mg Lβ»¹; ESR 8.78 → 6.13 mm hβ»¹;
• SL-1 (56 F): MRI T2 mapping showed 8 % drop in cartilage water content—early chondroprotective signal.
Visual Data Prompts
• Line graph: VAS at weeks 0, 1, 6, 12 (steady descent).
• Column pair: CRP baseline vs week 12 (4.5 → 2.3 mg Lβ»¹).
• Radar chart: WOMAC domains compressing toward centre post-therapy.
Interpretation
The large effect size for CRP (d = 2.40) underscores PEMF’s biological potency, while a d ≈ 2 for knee flexion rivals intensive physiotherapy gains. ROM tables reveal flexion shifted from 110–118° pre-treatment to 126–134° post-treatment in right knees, and 115–125° → 130–140° in left knees.
Safety & Tolerability
The authors report no adverse or unexpected events.
Limitations & Next Steps
• Small sample, no sham control. Placebo contribution cannot be ruled out.
• Short timeframe for structural change. While MRI hints at cartilage benefit, definitive cartilage-thickness outcomes need ≥ 6 months.
• Supplement co-administration. Stable doses minimise confounding, but synergistic effects cannot be separated.
• Self-report scales. VAS and WOMAC, though validated, rely on patient perception; objective gait-lab metrics would add rigour.
Download the Full Study
Access every table, MRI image, and statistical output: Download the peer-reviewed PDF.
Clinical Commentary
“PEMF pulses act like mechanical micro-signals for chondrocytes—opening calcium channels, boosting ATP, and up-regulating SOX-9, the master cartilage-matrix gene. Coupled with micro-vascular dilation, we see faster nutrient delivery and subdued cytokine noise. That dual action explains the CRP plunge and the functional gains we measured.”
— Dr Abhidhya Reddy, MD, Lead Investigator, Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences & Research
References
1. Reddy A, Meena S, Srikanth R, et al. Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy using Sentient Element for knee OA: open-label pilot study. Asian J Pharm Clin Res. 2025;18(3):115-123.
2. Markovic L, Wagner B, Crevenna R. PEMF therapy in osteoarthritis: a systematic review. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2022;134:425-433.
3. Thamsborg G, Florescu A, Oturai P, et al. PEMF for knee OA: randomized, double-blind trial. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2005;13:575-581.