The effect of low frequency pulsing electromagnetic field in treatment of patients with knee joint osteoarthritis

Pulsing electromagnetic field represents effective procedure in treating of diverse diseases and pathologic conditions, especially in rheumatology, orthopaedics and traumatology. The goal of this research is the objective evaluation of the treapeutic effect of low frequency pulsing electromagnetic field (LFEMF), in comparison with the effect of the other physical procedure: interfererence currents (IFC) and the medicamentous therapy, in treating of patients with knee joint osteoarthritis. This study was made as experimental, randomized, controlled clinical trial, opened type. The examination included 60 patients (40 females and 20 males) with osteoarthritis of the knee joint. All patients were divided in three groups. The first group of 20 persons, composed of patients treated with medicamentous therapy (Diklofenak of 100 mg, 2 tablets per day). The second group consisted of 20 patients treated by LFPEMF and the third group consisted of 20 patients treated by IFC. All procedures were implemented during 10 days All of patients had also the same duration therapeutic exercise. As observing parameter was used: Lattinen test for the evaluation of the pain sensitivity, before and after therapy. For the statistical analysis of the aquired data, was used Student’s t-test. After therapy the pain was considerably reduced in each group, but this effect was the most significant in the II group of the examinees, treated by LFPEMF (p< 0.001), than the effects in other groups of patients: I group (p< 0.05) and III group (p< 0.01). According to the results of this study it can be concluded that LFPEMF is very effective therapeutic procedure in treatment of patients with knee joint osteoarthritis.