• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2005

Background: The optimal management of pain using magnetic irradiation modalities continues to attract considerable debate. Therefore, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic therapy for the treatment of chronic lower back pain. Methods: Fifteen-minute sessions of active (n = 20) or placebo (n = 20) electromagnetic therapy were repeated 3 times a week for 3 weeks. Patients were assessed using the 11-point numerical rating scale and the revised Oswestry disability scores for up to 4 weeks after therapy. Results: The active magnetic group showed significantly more pain reduction than the placebo group immediately after therapy and one and four weeks after therapy (P < 0.05). At 4 weeks after therapy percentage changes in NRS from baseline were $22{\pm}24%$ and $38{\pm}11%$ in the placebo and magnetic groups, respectively. The revised Oswestry disability percentage in the active magnetic group was also significantly improved (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Pulsed electromagnetic therapy provided pain relief and ameliorated disability in patients with chronic lower back pain. According to our results, pulsed electromagnetic therapy should be considered an important potential therapeutic tool for the conservative therapy of chronic lower back pain.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.51-59
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• 2008

Incontinence is the urination disorder as the leakage of urine without her own volition and the woman's representative disease which reduce the life quality. The electromagnetic therapy has high possibility of development cause it has no needs of operant exercise, no arousing of shame and impossibility of infection. But, it has improvement points such as uniformity of the treatment protocol, patient dependance and absent of patient monitoring system. With these demands, the system which stimulate the pelvic flaw muscle with electromagnetic and monitoring the patient status during the therapy is proposed, in this study. And individually adapted electromagnetic therapy system for incontinence patient is also suggested. The proposed system consisted of electromagnetic generation device, cooling device, treating chair, patient monitoring device with pulsation and control software. The simulation for high power system and evaluation confirm was performed. With the development of control software, the convenience of using and maintenance are ensured and the patient adapted therapy protocol is applied. The developed patient adapted electromagnetic therapy system with monitoring device is regarded as the patient affinitive treating method by reducing the riskiness, improving the efficiency with patterned protocol and pre/post therapy. These results, in this study, can bring the safe and organized treatment method to incontinence patients and can lead the variable study for electromagnetic therapy in incontinence.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.75-91
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• 2010

Objectives : Although the controversy surrounding the biomechanics of the sacroiliac joint remains unresolved at this time, the clinical importance of this joint in the cause of back pain has been established since 1930's. Recently, there has been renewed interest in the sacroiliac joint. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of pulsed electromagnetic therapy(PEMT) with acupuncture therapy for patients, who were suffering from sacroiliac joint syndrome, and to conduct more researches in the usage of acupuncture therapy for treating sacroiliac joint syndrome. Methods : 25 patients, who were diagnosed as sacroiliac joint syndrome were selected. They were treated twice a week during 3 weeks. They were measured after all the treatment and firs week and fourth week after termination of treatment by using visual analogue scale(VAS) and Roland Morris disability index(RMDI). The VAS and RMDI patterns were analyzed by using 'pared T-test' and 'Kruskal-Wallis' test. Results : 1. Each times of PEMT with acupuncture therapy, there were statistical significance in improvement of VAS(p<0.05) and each times of therapy except 1st one, there were statistical significance in improvement of RMDI(p<0.05). 2. After 4th therapy, there were most significant improvement of VAS with RMDI(p<0.001), when we compared the change in VAS and RMDI before and after the each therapy. 3. There was no statistical significance in VAS and RMDI by onset, sex and age. Conclusions : The results indicate that pulsed electromagnetic therapy and acupuncture therapy had good effect on sacroiliac joint syndrome.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.85-96
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• 2016

Objectives This study was performed to evaluate the effects of acupuncture, electro-acupuncture and acupuncture with pulsed electromagnetic therapy on upper extremity of healthy people and hemiplegic patients by D.I.T.I.. Methods 20 healthy people and 20 hemiplegic patients caused by stroke were selected. They have been treated three different types of treatment; acupuncture, electro-acupuncture and acupuncture with pulsed electromagnetic therapy. And skin temperature of upper extremity has been measured before and after each treatment by D.I.T.I.. The thermographic data was analyzed by 'Independent T-test' and 'Repeated measures ANOVA test'. Results 1. In healthy group, there was very statistical significant difference (p<0.001) of the amount of thermal change by each treatment, and the amount of change was arranged in descending order; acupuncture with pulsed electromagnetic, acupuncture and electro-acupuncture. 2. In hemiplegic group, the skin temperature of hemiplegic side was $0.97^{\circ}C$ cooler than non-hemiplegic side. 3. Skin temperature of all hemiplegic patients was increased after acupuncture treatment. 4. In hemiplegic group, there was statistical significant difference (p<0.05) of the amount of thermal change by each treatment, and the amount of change was arranged in descending order; acupuncture with pulsed electromagnetic, acupuncture and electro-acupuncture. Conclusions The results indicate that acupuncture, electro-acupuncture and acupuncture with pulsed electromagnetic therapy had good effect on the change of skin temperature by stimulating sympathetic nervous system.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.69-82
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• 2000

Physical therapists are exposured to radio-and microwave-frequency electromagnetic radiation by operating electrotherapy units. So there is few protection system in physical therapy room. Clinical pathology room and so on where various kins of electromagnetic instruments is used in hospital while protection failities like protection wall or protection glass is being used only in radiological room to reduce the damage of radiation. Acoording to Larsen's survey on female physical therapist in denmark. it was said that the percentage of congenital malfornation was $3.6\%$ and cadiac malformation made up $0.7\%$. It is likely that effect of electromagnetic fields on the result cannot be ruled out. Rita ouellet-Hellstron and Walter F. Steward insisted that the danger of abortion increase in the case of pregnant femeal physical therapist exposured to microwave diathermy. The intention of our study is arousing the necessity of microwave protection in P.T room and finding the proper method for physical therapist safe. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Each electrotherapy units are occurrenced the electromagnetic fields, and specially amply occurrenced in H.P,I.C.T 2 unit operating, M.W.D unit head on parallel, S.W.D unit head on parallel. all electrotherapy units are operating. 2. There were electric fields mount are consideration to species of electrotherapy units(p<.05). 3. There were magnetic fields mount are consideration to species of electrotherapy units(p<.05). 4. There were electric fields mount are consideration to distance of electrotherapy units(p<.05). 7. There were magnetic fields mount are consideration nut to distance of electrotherapy units(p>.05). 8. Before and after protection on magnetic fields mount are consideration to all distance(0m, 0.3m, 1m, 3m, 5m)(p<.05) 9. Before and after protection on electric fields mount are consideration to 0m, 1m, 3m distance(p<.05), and consideration not to 0.3m, 5m distance(p>.05) 10. After protection fellow the each electrotherapy units. distance, intencity to electromagnetic fields are reduced(p<.05).

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.195-201
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• 2014

The objective of this study is to report the improvement of one patient with physical sequelas induced by spinal epidural abscess surgery. The patient was treated by acupuncture therapy with pulsed electromagnetic therapy and herb medicine. We evaluated the effectiveness by numerical rating scale (NRS). As a result, the patient improved significantly NRS score. And the patient's symptoms were alleviated. We guess that the causes of the patient symptoms are chronic inflammation and fibrosis of dural. We conclude that acupuncture therapy with pulsed electromagnetic therapy is an effective treatment to reduce the residual pain after spinal epidural abscess surgery. But there is a limit on this study due to sufficient number of case. Further studies will be needed.

• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.126-131
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• 2005

To increase the efficiency of an applicator during microwave hyperthermia therapy, first, the length from the antenna end to a slot is varied to get the optimal matching of the characteristic impedance at the frequency of 2.45 GHz. Using the electric and thermal constants of biological tissue, we compose a phantom to calculate temperature increment as well as the resonance characteristics and the SAR distributions. The proposed 3-slot sleeve antenna inserted in an applicator plays an effective role in increasing the therapy size in the view of heating performance as electromagnetic energy tends to concentrate on not feed point direction but treatment area. The SAR is then used in combination with a finite difference heat transfer equation to determine the temperature distribution. Also, in order to shorten treatment time and increase therapy size, a square-array structure is suggested and analyzed.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.225-234
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• 2009

Geant4 (GEometry ANd Tracking) provides various packages specialized in modeling electromagnetic interactions. The validation of Geant4 physics models is a significant issue for the applications of Geant4 based simulation in medical physics. The purpose of this study is to evaluate accuracy of Geant4 electromagnetic physics for proton therapy. The validation was performed both the Continuous slowing down approximation (CSDA) range and the stopping power. In each test, the reliability of the electromagnetic models in a selected group of materials was evaluated such as water, bone, adipose tissue and various atomic elements. Results of Geant4 simulation were compared with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) reference data. As results of comparison about water, bone and adipose tissue, average percent difference of CSDA range were presented 1.0%, 1.4% and 1.4%, respectively. Average percent difference of stopping power were presented 0.7%, 1.0% and 1.3%, respectively. The data were analyzed through the kolmogorov-smirnov Goodness-of-Fit statistical analysis test. All the results from electromagnetic models showed a good agreement with the reference data, where all the corresponding p-values are higher than the confidence level $\alpha=0.05$ set.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.486-494
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• 2021

The growth of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy and its progress over the years for use in post-operative bone growth has been revolutionary in its effect on bone tissue proliferation and vascular flow. However, further progress in PEMF therapy has been difficult due to lack of more evidence-based understanding of its mechanism of action. Our objective was to review the current understanding of bone growth physiology, the mechanism of PEMF therapy action along with its application in spinal surgery and associated outcomes. The authors of this review examined multiple controlled, comparative, and cohort studies to compare fusion rates of patients undergoing PEMF stimulation. Examining spinal fusion rates, a rounded comparison of post-fusion outcomes with and without bone stimulator was performed. Results showed that postoperative spinal surgery PEMF stimulation had higher rates of fusion than control groups. Though PEMF therapy was proven more effective, multiple factors contributed to difficulty in patient compliance for use. Extended timeframe of treatment and cost of treatment were the main obstacles to full compliance. This review showed that PEMF therapy presented an increased rate of recovery in patients, supporting the use of these devices as an effective post-surgical aid. Given the recent advances in the development of PEMF devices, affordability and access will be much easier suited to the patient population, allowing for more readily available treatment options.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.11-19
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• 2013

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a painful condition that arises from exercise-induced muscle damage after unaccustomed physical activities. Various therapeutic interventions have been applied to reduce the intensity and duration of DOMS-related symptoms. Recently, pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) intervention has been introduced as an alternative noninvasive treatment for DOMS. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment was conducted to examine the effects of PEMF therapy on DOMS in elbow flexors at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the experimental DOMS induction. Thirty healthy volunteers ($23{\pm}2.4$ yrs, $175{\pm}5.7$ cm, and $74{\pm}7.8$ kg) participated in this study. Each was randomly assigned to a PEMF or placebo group. On the first day, DOMS was induced in the elbow flexors by repeated isokinetic motions at low ($60^{\circ}/s$) and fast ($120^{\circ}/s$) speeds in all subjects. Thereafter, the PEMF group received 15-min daily treatment with a PEMF device. The placebo group received sham treatment of the same duration. Overall, PEMF application was more effective than the sham treatment in reducing the physiological symptoms associated with the DOMS including perceived soreness, median frequency, and electromechanical delay of the surface electromyography. In addition, median frequency and isokinetic peak torque of the PEMF group recovered to the pre-DOMS induction level earlier than the placebo group. In conclusion, this study suggests that PEMF can be applied as a new recovery strategy in reducing DOMS symptoms. Further experiments are required to examine the effect of the PEMF treatment on different types of exercise conditions and to determine the optimal treatment dosage and duration in a real clinical setting.