Electromagnetic Field Stimulation Attenuates Phasic Nociception after Complete Spinal Cord Injury in Rats.

Brain sciences · 2021 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 5666

Study snapshot

PublicationBrain sciences · 2021

Study typeanimal

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most incapacitating pathologies, leading to huge rehabilitation challenges besides a social-economic burden on SCI patients and their families. There is no complete curative treatment available so far. Non-invasive and patient-friendly use of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field stimulation (EMF) has emerged as a therapeutic and rehabilitation option. In this study, we tested whole-body EMF stimulation on thoracic complete SCI-induced nociception including sensorimotor deficits in rats. The EMF application significantly attenuated hyperalgesia and allodynia to thermal, electrical, and chemical stimuli from 6 weeks onwards as well as restoration of spinal reflexes, viz., H-reflex and nociceptive flexion reflex at the study endpoint (week 8). Besides, massively increased glutamate at the SCI injury site was observed in SCI rats with no treatment, which was also attenuated significantly by EMF stimulation. Spinal cord histology of the injury area showed a decrease in lesion volume and glial population in the EMF-stimulated rats. These findings indicate the beneficial role of EMF stimulation after thoracic complete SCI in adult male rats and, thereby, a beneficial patient-friendly rehabilitation tool.

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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 typeanimal

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationAdult male rats with thoracic complete traumatic spinal cord injury

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · from injury through week 8; effects reported from 6 weeks onwards

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Whole-body extremely low-frequency EMF stimulation significantly attenuated hyperalgesia and allodynia from 6 weeks onwards and was associated with restoration of H-reflex and nociceptive flexion reflex by week 8. EMF stimulation also significantly attenuated increased glutamate at the injury site and was associated with decreased lesion volume and glial population on histology.

Outcomes measured

Hyperalgesia
Allodynia (thermal, electrical, chemical stimuli)
Sensorimotor deficits
Spinal reflexes (H-reflex, nociceptive flexion reflex)
Glutamate levels at injury site
Spinal cord histology (lesion volume, glial population)

Limitations

Frequency and dosimetry parameters not reported in the abstract
Sample size not reported in the abstract
Animal model (adult male rats) limits direct generalization to humans

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "whole-body electromagnetic field stimulation",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "from injury through week 8; effects reported from 6 weeks onwards"
  },
  "population": "Adult male rats with thoracic complete traumatic spinal cord injury",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Hyperalgesia",
    "Allodynia (thermal, electrical, chemical stimuli)",
    "Sensorimotor deficits",
    "Spinal reflexes (H-reflex, nociceptive flexion reflex)",
    "Glutamate levels at injury site",
    "Spinal cord histology (lesion volume, glial population)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Whole-body extremely low-frequency EMF stimulation significantly attenuated hyperalgesia and allodynia from 6 weeks onwards and was associated with restoration of H-reflex and nociceptive flexion reflex by week 8. EMF stimulation also significantly attenuated increased glutamate at the injury site and was associated with decreased lesion volume and glial population on histology.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency and dosimetry parameters not reported in the abstract",
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
    "Animal model (adult male rats) limits direct generalization to humans"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "electromagnetic field stimulation",
    "spinal cord injury",
    "SCI",
    "nociception",
    "hyperalgesia",
    "allodynia",
    "H-reflex",
    "nociceptive flexion reflex",
    "glutamate",
    "histology",
    "lesion volume",
    "glia"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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: 10.3390/brainsci11111431
PubMed: 34827430

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