Effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy as an Adjunct Modality to Warm-up Exercise

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Status: Completed

Conditions: Knee Range-of-motion; Quadriceps Muscle Stiffness

Treatments: Device: Sham treatment; Device: Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06239103

202.616-T

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy as an adjunct to warm-up exercises, in healthy participants. Researchers will investigate both the immediate effect of one round of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) and after a warm-up exercise, on participants' range-of-motion (ROM) at the knee and quadriceps' muscle stiffness, measured through shear wave elastography, an ultrasound technique. This may be useful in future interventions to protect against sports injuries.

Participants will have their knee ROM and quadriceps' muscle stiffness measured thrice, once at baseline, once after PEMF/sham treatment, and once after 5 minutes of warm-up stationary bike exercises.

Researchers will compare with sham treatment to see if there are any significant effects from PEMF therapy.

Full description

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy as an adjunct to warm-up exercises, in healthy participants. Researchers will investigate both the immediate effect of one round of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) and after a warm-up exercise, on participants' range-of-motion (ROM) at the knee and quadriceps' muscle stiffness, measured through shear wave elastography, an ultrasound technique. This may be useful in future interventions to protect against sports injuries.

Participants will have their knee ROM and quadriceps' muscle stiffness measured thrice, once at baseline, once after PEMF/sham treatment, and once after 5 minutes of warm-up stationary bike exercises.

• Baseline measurement of knee ROM and quadriceps' muscle stiffness
• Receive PEMF for ten minutes around their knee joint
• Interim measurement of knee ROM and quadriceps' muscle stiffness
• Perform 5 minutes of warm-up exercise on a stationary bike
• Final measurement of knee ROM and quadriceps' muscle stiffness

Researchers will compare with sham treatment to see if there are any significant effects from PEMF therapy.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged between 18 and 40
• Obtained written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• History of major musculoskeletal or locomotor system disorder of lower limb
• History of traumatic or non-traumatic injury of lower limb
• History of surgical intervention of lower limb in the past 1 year
• Under any rehabilitation program at the time of investigation
• Contraindicated to physical exercises

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

PEMF treatment arm

Experimental group

Description:

Participants receive PEMF therapy. During this, the participant is seated with their right leg extended and with the bore of the PEMF machine between their knee and hip joints, with their left leg at rest. PEMF was applied at 1 mT, 15 Hz for 10 minutes.

Treatment:

Device: Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy

Control arm

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Participants receive sham therapy, where the PEMF machine does not apply the pulsed electromagnetic waves. However, during this, the participant is kept in the same position as those in the treatment arm.

Treatment:

Device: Sham treatment