An integrative review of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) and wound healing

This literature review assesses the most recent data to summarise the emerging potential uses, benefits and risks of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) in wound healing. Electromagnetic fields have mainly been used as an adjunct therapy for osteoarthritis and other diseases involving joints. However, PEMF has also been shown to influence various signalling molecules involved in wound healing, including MMP-2, IL -6 and TGF- beta. Therefore, studies have begun to explore the use of PEMF in other diseases, such as incision wound repair, diabetes -related foot ulcers (DFU) and pressure ulcers. However, the cellular response to PEMF is highly variable and likely influenced by multiple factors - frequency, duration, tissue type, stage of wound repair and field strength. This high degree of variability may explain why PEMF seems to promote cell proliferation under certain conditions and inhibit cell growth with different parameters. This review highlights the need for further research to determine precisely how different variables influence PEMF therapy. Before PEMF can be implemented widely in clinical practice, this review provides a starting point for further controlled trials. This review might also provide a solid base to propose standardised experimental guidelines to investigate PEMF efficacy in wound healing, ulcer treatment and type 2 diabetes.