Efficacy of extremely low-frequency magnetic field in fibromyalgia pain: A pilot study.

Journal of rehabilitation research and development · 2016 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 2872

Systemic ELF-MF therapy (100 microtesla, 1 to 80 Hz) significantly reduced pain; pain increased after cessation but remained significantly lower than baseline. Short-term improvements were also observed in FIQ, FAS, and HAQ scores, with less significant effec…

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of rehabilitation research and development · 2016

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the efficacy of an extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) in decreasing chronic pain in fibromyalgia (FM) patients. Thirty-seven females were recruited and randomized into two groups: one group was first exposed to systemic ELF-MF therapy (100 microtesla, 1 to 80 Hz) and then to sham therapy, and the other group received the opposite sequence of intervention. Pain, FM-related symptoms, and the ability to perform daily tasks were measured using the Visual Analog Scale, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Fibromyalgia Assessment Scale (FAS), and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) at baseline, end of first treatment cycle, beginning of second treatment cycle (after 1 mo washout), end of second treatment cycle, and end of 1 mo follow-up. ELF-MF treatment significantly reduced pain, which increased on cessation of therapy but remained significantly lower than baseline levels. Short-term benefits were also observed in FIQ, FAS, and HAQ scores, with less significant effects seen in the medium term. ELF-MF therapy can be recommended as part of a multimodal approach for mitigating pain in FM subjects and improving the efficacy of drug therapy or physiotherapy.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typerandomized_trial

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationFemales with fibromyalgia (FM)

Sample size37

ExposureELF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Pain (Visual Analog Scale)
Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ)
Fibromyalgia Assessment Scale (FAS)
Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ)
FM-related symptoms
Ability to perform daily tasks

Limitations

Pilot study
All participants were female
Exposure duration and number/length of treatment cycles not specified in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "other",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Females with fibromyalgia (FM)",
  "sample_size": 37,
  "outcomes": [
    "Pain (Visual Analog Scale)",
    "Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ)",
    "Fibromyalgia Assessment Scale (FAS)",
    "Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ)",
    "FM-related symptoms",
    "Ability to perform daily tasks"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Systemic ELF-MF therapy (100 microtesla, 1 to 80 Hz) significantly reduced pain; pain increased after cessation but remained significantly lower than baseline. Short-term improvements were also observed in FIQ, FAS, and HAQ scores, with less significant effects in the medium term.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Pilot study",
    "All participants were female",
    "Exposure duration and number/length of treatment cycles not specified in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency magnetic field",
    "ELF-MF",
    "fibromyalgia",
    "chronic pain",
    "sham therapy",
    "randomized",
    "washout",
    "Visual Analog Scale",
    "FIQ",
    "FAS",
    "HAQ"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elf-health-effects",
      "weight": 0.86,
      "reason": "Intervention study using extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (1–80 Hz) assessing health outcomes (pain and function) in fibromyalgia."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1682/jrrd.2015.04.0061
PubMed: 28475205

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