Efficacy of Pulse Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF) in Patients With Nonspecific Chronic Neck Pain
Condition: Neck Pain; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Chronic Neck Pain; Cervical Disc Disease
MeSH terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Neck Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This investigation aims to investigate the effectiveness of Pulse Electromagnetic Field
      Therapy (PEMF) on neck pain, cervical range of motion, pressure pain threshold and quality of
      life in patients with nonspecific chronic neck pain compared to cervical therapeutic
      exercises.
    

Detailed description: 
      Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint in society. It is the most common
      musculoskeletal problem after low back pain. It may regress spontaneously within a few weeks
      or may become chronic, as in 30% of patients. When it becomes chronic, it can negatively
      affect the daily life activities of individuals and lead to functional limitations and
      inadequacies.

      Various approaches exist for neck pain in clinical practice. Among them; education of
      patients on neck pain, ergonomic arrangements, analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
      drugs, muscle relaxants, exercise, physical therapy agents such as transcutaneous electrical
      stimulation (TENS), superficial and deep heaters, Pulse Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMT)
      , manipulation, mobilization methods, nerve blockages and surgical intervention.

      Magnetotherapy is a treatment method based on magnetic field interaction. As a result of
      pulsed or alternating electromagnetic fields, an electrical current occurs in the tissues.
      Pulse magnetotherapy has three physical mechanisms known to be effective in living tissue:
      Magnetic induction, magneto-mechanical effects, and electronic interactions. Effects of
      magnetic field application are vasodilation, analgesic effect, anti-inflammatory effect,
      acceleration of healing, antiedematous effect. Magnetotherapy increases the oxygen release of
      erythrocytes and provides oxygenation of the tissues. This causes a decrease in toxins in the
      damaged area, an increase in vital nutrients and endorphins. With this physiological change,
      magnetic energy decreases the pain receptor sensitivity that sends a message to the brain.
      With this treatment method, pain reduction is achieved, while joint mobility increases. This
      investigation was designed prospective sham controlled randomized study. Participants were
      randomized into 3 groups: PEMT + therapeutic exercise, sham PEMT + therapeutic exercise, and
      only therapeutic exercise. As evaluation parameters, cervical range of motion, Visual Pain
      Scale (VAS) Neck, Visual Pain Scale (VAS) Neck, SF (Short form) -36 Quality of Life Scale,
      pressure pain threshold measurement with an algometer, patient global assessment, and
      physician global assessment will be evaluated with.It was planned that the evaluations were
      made and recorded by a blinded physician to the groups at the beginning of the treatment, at
      the end of the treatment and at the 6th week controls.
    

Intervention name(s): Pulse electromagnetic field therapy; Sham pulse electromagnetic field therapy; Therapeutic Exercise
Intervention type(s): Other; Other; Other
Intervention description(s): It was applied with an electromagnetic field device (ASA Pmt Quatro Pro, ASA Srl Via A.Volta 9-36057 Italia) at 25 Hz frequency, 30 Gauss, %35 intensity and for 25 minutes. The treatment period was 5 days a week for 3 weeks, in total. It was applied as 15 sessions.
Therapeutic Exercise As a therapeutic exercise program (neck stability exercises); active cervical ROM, cervical isometric and progressive (selfexercise with Thera-Band) strengthening muscles; trapezius, scalene, rhomboid, levator scapular, pectoral, suboccipital muscles stretching exercises, scapular stabilization exercises. It was planned to implement a total of 15 sessions 5 days a week for 3 weeks, for approximately 30 minutes. Exercises will be performed by a trained (at least 5 years experienced) physiotherapist, three times a day, in 3 sets, 10 repetitions.; Sham pulse electromagnetic field therapy was applied five sessions a week for four weeks, for a total of 15 sessions a day, using electromagnetic field device (ASA Pmt Quatro Pro, ASA Srl Via A.Volta 9-36057 Italy) without current flowing through the device.
Therapeutic Exercise As a therapeutic exercise program (neck stability exercises); active cervical ROM, cervical isometric and progressive (selfexercise with Thera-Band) strengthening muscles; trapezius, scalene, rhomboid, levator scapular, pectoral, suboccipital muscles stretching exercises, scapular stabilization exercises. It was planned to implement a total of 15 sessions 5 days a week for 3 weeks, for approximately 30 minutes. Exercises will be performed by a trained (at least 5 years experienced) physiotherapist, three times a day, in 3 sets, 10 repetitions.; Therapeutic Exercise As a therapeutic exercise program (neck stability exercises); active cervical ROM, cervical isometric and progressive (selfexercise with Thera-Band) strengthening muscles; trapezius, scalene, rhomboid, levator scapular, pectoral, suboccipital muscles stretching exercises, scapular stabilization exercises. It was planned to implement a total of 15 sessions 5 days a week for 3 weeks, for approximately 30 minutes. Exercises will be performed by a trained (at least 5 years experienced) physiotherapist, three times a day, in 3 sets, 10 repetitions.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: Pulse Electromagnetic Field Therapy; Chronic neck pain; Cervical Disc Disease