Journal of Science and Medicine PEMF: A survey

Journal of Science and Medicine

PEMF: A survey of clinical and individual uses and perceptions

by R Dennis · 2021 · Cited by 1 — The scope of clinical applications of PEMF has been remarkably extensive for decades. Marketing claims of PEMF products are even more extensive. With the emergence of affordable, highly efficient PEMF in a portable/wearable form factor, individual owners of PEMF have also started to increase sharply in number. Though PEMF has been listed and in some cases approved (510K) for use by the FDA for a few specific applications, its adoption and clinical use in mainstream medicine remains narrow and very limited. The primary clinical uses of PEMF have been by practitioners in alternative, integrative, functional, and complimentary medicine and related fields. The objective of this study is to determine the primary uses, perceptions, and observations of individuals as well as clinicians who actively use PEMF in their clinical practice.

This paper summarizes an open questionnaire administrated to attendees at the meeting of the Academy of Comprehensive Integrative Medicine (ACIM) in November 2019 in Orlando Florida. There were 421 respondents to the survey. The survey was administered to registered attendees, was entirely voluntary and uncompensated, and the results were analyzed and presented at the ACIM conference by the author (RG Dennis).

Briefly, the main questions asked were:

#1: What do you use PEMF for? (multiple-select response)

#2: What other uses do you have for PEMF? (open-ended response)

#3: Do you have any interesting or unusual applications for PEMF? (open-ended response)

#4: What uses of PEMF are you most interested in getting more information about? (select)

#5: Are you interested in any other uses of PEMF that have not been listed? (open)

#6: Do you use PEMF along with any other type of therapy? (ADJUNCTIVE) (select)

#7: Do you have any other adjunctive or synergistic uses for PEMF? (open)

#8: Did you observe synergistic effects? (select)

#9: Which PEMF systems do you have? (select from list)

#10: What other PEMF systems do you use? (those not listed) (open)

#11: Have you tried combining portable (personal) PEMF with whole-body PEMF? (select)

#12: Have you ever observed or experienced adverse effects from the use of PEMF? (select)

#13: Briefly explain any adverse effects you have experienced or observed. (open)

#14: Based on your observations and experience, PEMF is most effective for…? (select)

#15: What applications of PEMF do you think work LEAST WELL or NOT AT ALL? (select)

#16: Are you an individual user or clinician? (select)

#17: Clinical advice: is PEMF best used at home or in a clinic? (select)

#18: For or HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, what modalities do you combine with PEMF? (open)

The survey was followed by informal discussions and questions, which are also summarized. These included the perceptions related to PEMF system cost, fraudulent claims, and the use of PEMF as a “last resort” despite the apparent safety and effectiveness of PEMF.

Full detailed responses to the survey are included in the Appendix.


https://www.josam.org/josam/article/view/69