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Short-term effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields after physical exercise are dependent on autonomic tone before exposure

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Abstract

The therapeutic application of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) can accelerate healing after bone fractures and also alleviate pain according to several studies. However, no objective criteria have been available to ensure appropriate magnetic field strength or type of electromagnetic field. Moreover, few studies so far have investigated the physical principles responsible for the impact of electromagnetic fields on the human body. Existing studies have shown that PEMFs influence cell activity, the autonomic nervous system and the blood flow. The aim of this study is to examine the instantaneous and short-term effects of a PEMF therapy and to measure the impact of different electromagnetic field strengths on a range of physiological parameters, especially the autonomic nervous systems, determined by heart rate variability (HRV) as well as their influence on subjects’ general feeling of well-being. The study comprised experimental, double-blind laboratory tests during which 32 healthy male adults (age: 38.4 ± 6.5 years) underwent four physical stress tests at standardised times followed by exposure to pulsed magnetic fields of varying intensity [HPM, High Performance magnetic field; Leotec; pulsed signal; mean intensity increase: zero (placebo), 0.005, 0.03 and 0.09 T/s]. Exposure to electromagnetic fields after standardised physical effort significantly affected the very low frequency power spectral components of HRV (VLF; an indicator for sympathetically controlled blood flow rhythms). Compared to placebo treatment, exposure to 0.005 T/s resulted in accelerated recovery after physical strain. Subjects with lower baseline VLF power recovered more quickly than subjects with higher VLF when exposed to higher magnetic field strengths. The application of electromagnetic fields had no effect on subjects’ general feeling of well-being. Once the magnetic field exposure was stopped, the described effects quickly subsided. PEMF exposure has a short-term dosage-dependent impact on healthy subjects. Exposure to PEMF for 20 min resulted in more rapid recovery of heart rate variability, especially in the very low frequency range after physical strain. The study also showed the moderating influence of the subjects’ constitutional VLF power on their response to PEMF treatment. These findings have since been replicated in a clinical study and should be taken into consideration when PEMF treatment is chosen.

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Notes

  1. According to the Maxwell equation, we induced three different field strengths (E; mV/cm) and current densities (J; mA/mm2) in the tissue of our subjects: 0.005 T/s: E = 3.75, J = 0.0039; 0.03 T/s: E = 22.5, J = 0.0233 and 0.09 T/s: E = 67.5, J = 0.0700; To estimate the induced field strengths and current densities we used the properties of the medulla with a specific conductivity of 0.10375 S/m and a diameter of 3 cm. Furthermore, we assumed that the flux densities as well as the conductivity of the living tissue is homogeneous, which is not completely accurate for real tissue.

  2. The height of the platform was adjusted to the size of each test person followed by a short test trial to get used to the physical stress test before starting the test protocol. Subjects showed an average heart rate of 155 beats per minute (bpm; range: 116–192 bpm).

  3. HRV values are depending on the age and decline with aging (e.g. O’Brien et al. 1986; Moser et al., 1998; Umetani et al. 1998), but this is not important for a test protocol with repeated measurements (crossover design). In this study, age is not significantly associated with the reported dependent variables and their changes during exposure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Noninvasive Diagnosis, JOANNEUM RESEARCH, Weiz, Austria

    V. Grote, H. Lackner, C. Kelz, M. Trapp & M. Moser

  2. Clinical Practice, Ansfelden, Linz, Austria

    F. Aichinger

  3. Humanomed Centre, Althofen, Austria

    H. Puff & M. Moser

  4. Physiological Institute, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

    M. Moser

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  1. V. Grote
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  2. H. Lackner
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  3. C. Kelz
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  4. M. Trapp
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  5. F. Aichinger
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  6. H. Puff
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  7. M. Moser
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Correspondence to M. Moser.

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Grote, V., Lackner, H., Kelz, C. et al. Short-term effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields after physical exercise are dependent on autonomic tone before exposure. Eur J Appl Physiol 101, 495–502 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0520-x

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