Brief, weekly magnetic muscle therapy improves mobility and lean body mass in older adults: a Southeast Asia community case study

Sharanya Venugobal, Yee Kit Tai, Jorming Goh, Sean Teh, Craig Wong, Ivan Goh, Andrea B. Maier, Brian K. Kennedy, Alfredo Franco-Obregón

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Brief (10 min) weekly exposure to low energy pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) has been shown to improve human muscle mitochondrial bioenergetics and attenuate systemic lipotoxicity following anterior cruciate ligament surgical reconstruction. Here we present data generated from 101 participants, 62% female, aged 38–91 years, recruited from the QuantumTx Demo Centre in Singapore, wherein 87% of participants (n = 88) presented with pre-existing mobility dysfunction and 13% (n = 13) were healthy volunteers. Participants were recruited if: (i) not pregnant; (ii) above 35 years of age and; (iii) without surgical implants. All participants completed mobility testing, pre and post-PEMF intervention for 12 weeks, whereas bioelectrical impedance analysis was conducted in a subgroup of 42 and 33 participants at weeks 4 and 8, respectively. Weekly PEMF exposure was associated with significant improvements in mobility (Timed Up and Go, 5 times Sit-to-Stand, and 4m Normal Gait Speed) and body composition (increased skeletal muscle mass and reduced total and visceral fat mass), particularly in the older participants. Perception of pain was also significantly reduced. PEMF therapy may provide a manner to counteract age-associated mobility and metabolic disruptions and merits future investigation in randomized controlled trials to elucidate its clinical benefits in the frail and older adult populations
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1768-1790
JournalAging
Volume15
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023
Externally publishedYes

Funding

The publication of this manuscript is supported by the Lee Foundation. The authors would like to acknowledge Loiuse Wong for her assistance in the preparation of the NUS IRB application. We would like to acknowledge the Centre of Innovation in Healthcare and the Alexandra Hospital for providing the facilities to run the study. We would also like to acknowledge funding from Enterprise Singapore and the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise, raiSE, for supporting the development and production of devices. Manpower to oversee the study was provided by QuantumTx. Salary support for the data analysis and writing of the manuscript came from the Department of Surgery (NUS), Lee Foundation and ESR Post-doctorate Fellowship in Nanomedicine.

FundersFunder number
Enterprise Singapore
Lee Foundation

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