What is PEMF Therapy and How Can it Help After an Injury?

A: PEMF, otherwise known as pulsed electromagnetic frequency, has been used to heal human beings for decades by helping with cell rejuvenation. First used in the 1950s, this therapy harnesses the power of electricity and magnetism to awaken and heal cells in the body. The United States, Western Europe, Japan, Russia, and Australia were some of the first countries to utilize this therapy. In 2007, the FDA approved PEMF therapy for depression and non-union fractures.

Unfortunately, PEMF therapy has yet to be cleared by the FDA for treating paralysis, leaving patients having to pay for it out-of-pocket. PEMF specifically creates an electromagnetic field around the person or wound that is trying to be healed, and in order to create this field, there are several devices you can use, including home-use devices. And many use their devices on a daily basis in order to get the most benefits possible from the therapy. Scientists believe that an exogenous electromagnetic field exists around all of us and is responsible for many of the biological processes in our bodies. 

While PEMF therapy hasn't been officially approved by the FDA to treat spinal cord injuries, there have been many studies in animals (rats and dogs) that show it can improve function. For example, rats who received the therapy were more aware of their foot location than the rats that didn’t. PEMF can also help improve sensation and decrease secondary issues like pressure shores and spasticity in people with paralysis. In Europe, PEMF therapy has been used to treat people with cerebral palsy and spinal cord injuries for years specifically to help lessen spasms.

The benefits of doing PEMF therapy on a regular basis can have monumental effects on someone with a spinal cord injury. And the exciting part - many people report it has also helped improve motor function, especially in those with new injuries. It can even help minimize pain, improve tissue health (which it’s able to do by making the paralyzed parts of the body more connected to the spinal cord and less "trophic"). It can also help improve sensation such as restoring partial sensation to the bladder.

There are many anecdotal stories of how it has improved function in people with spinal cord injuries as well. One young man with a C2 level injury, with no movement from the neck down, has been experiencing exciting improvements from his PEMF therapy. He lays on a PEMF mat each day for 20 minutes to recharge his body’s cells. He says that doing PEMF therapy on a regular basis has helped improve the blood flow in his body so much that it’s helped lessen muscle soreness, reduce spasms, increased his nerve sensation, and helped regulate his bowels.

The most exciting part of this young man’s recovery? He’s experienced improvements like more movement in his shoulders and arms and more sensation in his body, since utilizing PEMF therapy. To see the mat, click here: https://healthyline.com/product/platinum-mat-full-7224-firm-photon-advanced-pemf/?fbclid=IwAR0y3gVLBUK8_aqpzeV5wB_Fp0JF5BNo_NjDgCWUM_4xMLpkB-z6mK80jZw. This PEMF mat warms up like a heating blanket, and it comes with 10 preset programs. Outside of helping improve nerve function, it helps relax muscles, improve joint flexibility, reduce pain, improve circulation and alleviate stress and depression.

The verdict? We strongly encourage all people with spinal cord injuries to try PEMF therapy, as the reports from the people who have used it are too good to overlook. When it comes to something as permanent as paralysis, anything helps. PEMF mats can run anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the features you would like added.