Optimization of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Parameters for Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment and its Clinical Validations

Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent degenerative disease that significantly diminishes quality of life in older adults, causing pain, stiffness, reduced mobility, and increasing healthcare costs. Current treatments often fail to adequately address KOA, particularly in personalizing therapy to individual needs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy, a non-invasive and drug-free intervention customized to KOA severity, with the aim of enhancing therapeutic outcomes.

A PEMF generator was developed to emit frequencies between 0 and 300 Hz and duty cycles of 5-90%. Simulations using an anatomically equivalent knee model were conducted to optimize magnetic field parameters, emphasizing penetration depth and signal integrity. Advanced techniques like Fast Fourier Transform, K-Means clustering, and Principal Component Analysis identified optimal PEMF settings for KOA grades. A Randomized Controlled Trial at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, involving 60 patients, assessed pain (Visual Analog Scale, VAS), mobility (Goniometry), and QoL through KOOS scores.

Customized PEMF therapy resulted in a 31.6% pain reduction (2.4 ± 0.2) compared to 14.3% in controls (1.1 ± 0.2). Knee mobility improved by 13.8% (12.7 ± 0.9°) versus 7.3% in controls (6.4 ± 0.8°). KOOS scores increased by 126.9% in the experimental group, significantly surpassing the control’s 77.9%. All results were statistically significant with p < 0.001.

The tailored PEMF therapy proposed in this work has the potential to be seamlessly integrated into clinical practice, providing clinicians with an effective, non-invasive tool to enhance KOA management and improve patient outcomes.