Efficacy of low frequency pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on physical fitness in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis:a randomized, placebo-controlled study

S. M. El-Shamy, A. A. Mohamed
Energy for Health [11], 2013

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most common rheumatic disease of childhood. This study was conducted to examine the effects of low frequency pulsed magnetic field therapy on physical fitness in children with polyarticular JRA.
Thirty children, with polyarticular JRA, aged 8 to 12 years were included. Children were randomized for treatment in two groups. In the group A (study) received low frequency pulsed magnetic field therapy 3 times per week for successive 12 weeks. In the group B (control) received a placebo treatment. Evaluation of knee joint pain using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and physical fitness using 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) were performed before and after the treatment. The result of this study revealed that there was a statistically significant improvement in physical fitness in children with JRA.
Therefore, low frequency pulsed magnetic field is effective, innovative, non-invasive, non-expensive and can be used as a new trend physical therapy modality in the treatment of fatigue in JRA.