Thamsborg G, Florescu A, Oturai P, Fallentin E, Tritsaris K, Dissing S
Department of Geriatri and Rheumatology, Glostrup Hospital, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark.
Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2005 Jul;13(7):575-81. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2005.02.012.
The investigation aimed at determining the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee by conducting a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
The trial consisted of 2h daily treatment 5 days per week for 6 weeks in 83 patients with knee OA. Patient evaluations were done at baseline and after 2 and 6 weeks of treatment. A follow-up evaluation was done 6 weeks after treatment. Activities of daily living (ADL), pain and stiffness were evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) questionnaire.
Within group analysis revealed a significant improvement in ADL, stiffness and pain in the PEMF-treated group at all evaluations. In the control group there was no effect on ADL after 2 weeks and a weak significance was seen after 6 and 12 weeks. Significant effects were seen on pain at all evaluations and on stiffness after 6 and 12 weeks. Between group analysis did not reveal significant improvements over time. Analysis of ADL score for the PEMF-treated group revealed a significant correlation between less improvement and increasing age. Analysis of patients <65 years using between group analysis revealed a significant improvement for stiffness on treated knee after 2 weeks, but this effect was not observed for ADL and pain.
Applying between group analysis we were unable to demonstrate a beneficial symptomatic effect of PEMF in the treatment of knee OA in all patients. However, in patients <65 years of age there is significant and beneficial effect of treatment related to stiffness.
通过开展一项随机、双盲、安慰剂对照临床试验，研究脉冲电磁场（PEMF）治疗膝关节骨关节炎（OA）的有效性。
该试验对83例膝关节OA患者进行为期6周的治疗，每周5天，每天治疗2小时。在基线时以及治疗2周和6周后对患者进行评估。治疗后6周进行随访评估。使用西安大略和麦克马斯特大学（WOMAC）问卷评估日常生活活动（ADL）、疼痛和僵硬程度。
组内分析显示，在所有评估中，PEMF治疗组的ADL、僵硬程度和疼痛均有显著改善。在对照组中，2周后ADL无变化，6周和12周后有微弱的改善。在所有评估中疼痛均有显著改善，6周和12周后僵硬程度有显著改善。组间分析未显示随时间有显著改善。对PEMF治疗组ADL评分的分析显示，改善程度较小与年龄增长之间存在显著相关性。对65岁以下患者进行组间分析，结果显示治疗2周后治疗膝关节的僵硬程度有显著改善，但ADL和疼痛未观察到这种效果。
应用组间分析，我们无法证明PEMF对所有膝关节OA患者的治疗有有益的症状改善作用。然而，在65岁以下的患者中，治疗对僵硬程度有显著且有益的效果。
