Evaluation of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field in the management of osteoarthritis using Electromyography – An Interventional study

Knee pain is one of the most frequent musculoskeletal problems among the middle-aged and elderly people and ‘Osteoarthritis’ is the widespread clinical pathology of the knee. Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate whether low frequency Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field (PEMF) therapy is effective in patients with osteoarthritis knee using surface Electromyography (sEMG) of vastus medialis. Methods: The participants were subjected to Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy using the PULSATRON  instrument designed by Madras Institute of Magnetobiology, Anna nagar. They were given PEMF therapy of 10 Hz for 60 minutes/ day for 21 days with a break after every 6 days. The participants of the study were subjected to Electromyography of vastus medialis using the MEDICAID PHYSIOPAC machine. The findings are compared before and after the duration of PEMF therapy. Results: The study shows that Low frequency PEMF (10 Hz) can be used as a treatment modality for Osteoarthritis. PEMF therapy, when given for a sufficient time (21 days) can improve the stiffness and the power of muscles as seen by the increase in amplitude of electromyography. The mean amplitude of sEMG in vastus medialis was found to be significantly increased (p <0.001) in the study group following the Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field (PEMF) therapy

Evaluation of the Effect of Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field Therapy in Osteoarthritis of Knee

BACKGROUND: The degenerative arthritis commonly referred to as the ‘Osteoarthritis’ is the widespread clinical pathology of the knee. It is the major cause of pain and physical disability among the middle aged and elderly population with knee as the most commonly affected joint. Most of the pharmacotherapies used for the reduction of symptoms of osteoarthritis have pronounced side effects. The Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field Therapy (PEMF) has gained its clinical interest because of its anti-inflammatory property, stimulatory effects on cartilage and bone, non-invasiveness and without any side effects. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the low frequency Pulsed Electro Magnetic Therapy (PEMF) can reduce pain and improve the functioning of knee joint among the patients of knee osteoarthritis. METHODS AND METHODOLOGY: The study included fifty patients between the age group of 50-70 years with knee osteoarthritis for atleast one year duration. They were subjected to PEMF therapy, delivering 1500 nTesla (10 Hz frequency with sine wave configuration) for 60 minutes/day for 21 days with a break after every 6 days. Before and after the PEMF therapy, pain assessment by Visual Analog Scale (VAS), symptom assessment by Western Ontario Mcmaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), severity assessment by the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grading system, assessment of functioning of the joint by surface Electromyography (sEMG) of vastus medialis and assessment of degree of inflammation by the levels of serum Prostaglandin E2 levels were performed. RESULTS: After the Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field Therapy, the results were analysed by Paired t test using SPSS version 21. There was a significant reduction (p<0.001) in Visual Analog Score, WOMAC score and significant improvement (p<0.001) in the power of vastus medialis as shown by the increase in amplitude of surface electromyography. A significant reduction (p<0.001) in the levels of serum Prostaglandin E2 were also observed. CONCLUSION: Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field (PEMF) therapy reduces the arthritic pain, improves the blood flow to the joint and the surrounding muscles and causes an improvement in physical function and the power of muscles acting at the knee joint. Hence PEMF can be used as a treatment modality for knee osteoarthritis. It also has the advantage of non-invasiveness, involves no medications and adverse effects

Adsorption of chromium (VI) on functionalized and non-functionalized carbon nanotubes

We did a comparative study on the adsorption capacity of Cr (VI) between functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and non-functionalized CNTs. The statistical analysis reveals that the optimum conditions for the highest removal of Cr (VI) are at pH 9, with dosage 0.1 gram, agitation speed and time of 120 rpm and 120 minutes, respectively. For the initial concentration of 1.0 mg/l, the removal efficiency of Cr (VI) using functionalized CNTs was 87.6% and 83% of non-functionalized CNTs. The maximum adsorption capacities of functionalized and non-functionalized CNTs were 2.517 and 2.49 mg/g, respectively. Langmuir and Freundlich models were adopted to study the adsorption isotherm, which provided a K L and K F value of 1.217 L/mg and 18.14 mg1−n L n /g functionalized CNT, while 2.365 L/mg and 2.307 mg1−n L n /g for non-functionalized CNTs. This result proves that functionalized CNTs are a better adsorbent with a higher adsorption capacity compared with the non-functionalized CNTs