Electromagnetic Transduction Therapy for Achilles Tendinopathy: A Preliminary Report on a New Technology.
Author: Gerdesmeyer L1, Saxena A2, Klueter T3, Harrasser N4, Fullem B5, Krath A6
Affiliation:
1Professor and Orthopedist, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Schleswig Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany; Professor and Orthopedist, Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Technical University Munich, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.
2Podiatrist, Department of Sports Medicine, Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group, Palo Alto, CA. Electronic address: heysax@aol.com.
3Orthopedist, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Schleswig Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
4Professor and Orthopedist, Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Technical University Munich, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.
5Podiatrist, Elite Sports Podiatry, Clearwater, FL.
6Professor and Orthopedist, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Schleswig Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
Conference/Journal: J Foot Ankle Surg.
Date published: 2017 Sep - Oct
Other:
Volume ID: 56 , Issue ID: 5 , Pages: 964-967 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1053/j.jfas.2017.06.014. , Word Count: 203
A parallel prospective feasibility study was performed on 53 patients with chronic mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy (age 44.7 ± 9.1 years). Of the 53 patients, 28 (active group) were treated using a new electromagnetic (pulsed electromagnetic field) transduction therapy device (Cellactor® MT1) and heel cushions. The device produces an electromagnetic field of 80 milliTesla; a total of 8 treatments was performed within 4 weeks in an outpatient setting, without anesthesia, immobilization, or rest. A control group of 25 patients with a similar duration of symptoms was treated with heel cushions only. At the 12-week assessment point, the visual analog scale scores in both groups had significantly decreased, although the active group had significantly improved visual analog scale scores compared with those of the controls. The Role-Maudsley scores had also significantly improved in both the active and the control groups (p < .00001 and p = .0002, respectively). Electromagnetic transduction therapy could potentially be a useful modality for the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy. It should be compared with the current reference standard of extracorporeal shockwave therapy/radial soundwave therapy with similar level I, II, and III studies.
Copyright © 2017 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: electromagnetic; extracorporeal shockwave therapy; pulsed electromagnetic field; radial soundwave therapy; tendinopathy
PMID: 28842106 DOI: 10.1053/j.jfas.2017.06.014
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