Table 1

Characteristics of included studies

StudiesBalanceNLocation of OAAge, years
(mean±SD)
Female
%
Mean BMI, kg/m2
(mean±SD)
Duration of OA, years
(mean±SD)
Exposure of interventionTime point for outcome measure
Daily timeExposure duration
Ay9 PEMFHot pack, TENS55Knee58.9±8.870.0NA3.6±4.630 min3 weeks
(15 sessions)
After treatment
Placebo57.7±6.576.0NA3.5±4.1
Bagnato10 PEMFNone60Knee67.7±10.970.027.4±4.312.1±8.2A minimum of 12 hours1 month
(30 sessions)
1 month
Placebo68.6±11.973.327.7±4.612.4±9.1
Fischer11 PEMFNone71Knee52.1±1.971.429.2±1.06.8±0.716 min6 weeks
(42 sessions)
Therapy-end, 4 weeks after therapy-end
Placebo62.1±1.572.229.4±0.76.2±0.6
Lee13 PEMFNone51Knee63.5±8.98.026.1±3.112.7±7.530 min6 weeks (18 sessions)3, 6 weeks during treatment, 4 weeks after finishing
Placebo66.2±8.811.527.1±3.712.8±7.6
Nelson14 PEMFCurrent standard of care34Knee55.5±2.573.733.5±1.9NA15 min6 weeks
(84 sessions)
14, 29, 42 days
Placebo58.4±2.566.734.7±1.7NA
Nicolakis15 PEMFNone36Knee69.0±5.073.3NANA30 min6 weeks
(84 sessions)
After treatment
Placebo67.0±7.047.1NANA
Pipitone16 PEMFNone75Knee62.0 (40–84) *35.3NA4.0 (1.0–18.0) *10 min and three times a day6 weeks2, 4, 6 weeks after study entry
Placebo64.0 (48–84) *20.0NA8.0 (0.5–31.0) *
Tejero Sánchez18 PEMFNone83Knee67.4±8.787.9NANA30 min20 sessionsThe end of therapy, 1 month after therapy
Placebo68.0±8.388.2NANA
Thamsborg19 PEMFNone83Knee60.4±8.746.527.0±4.07.5±5.22 hours6 weeks
(30 sessions)
2 weeks, end of treatment, 6 weeks after end of treatment
Placebo59.6±8.661.027.5±5.77.9±7.7
Trock20PEMFDo not change basic therapeutic regimen86Knee69.2±11.569.0NA9.1±8.930 min4–5 weeks
(18 sessions)
Midway of therapy, the last treatment, and 1 month later
Placebo65.8±11.770.5NA7.4±7.2
Sutbeyaz17 PEMFNone34Cervical43.2±10.364.7NANA30 min3 weeks
(42 sessions)
After treatment
Placebo42.1±10.166.7NANA
Trock20PEMFDo not change basic therapeutic regimen81Cervical61.2±13.428.6NA7.4±6.730 min4–5 weeks
(18 sessions)
Midway of therapy, the last treatment, and 1 month later
Placebo67.4±8.030.8NA8.1±8.0
Kanat12 PEMFActive range of motion and resistive exerciss50Hand64.0±2.60NANA5.01±2.320 min10 daysAfter treatment
Placebo62.0±2.40NANA4.31±4.7
  • *Age and duration of OA in this trial were expressed by median (range).

  • †This trial provided data of patients with knee OA and cervical OA, respectively.

  • BMI, body mass index; N, number of participates; NA, not available; OA, osteoarthritis; PEMF, pulsed electromagnetic field; TENS, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.