Table 1

Characteristics of included studies

Studies		Balance	N	Location of OA	Age, years (mean±SD)	Female %	Mean BMI, kg/m² (mean±SD)	Duration of OA, years (mean±SD)	Exposure of intervention		Time point for outcome measure
Studies		Balance	N	Location of OA	Age, years (mean±SD)	Female %	Mean BMI, kg/m² (mean±SD)	Duration of OA, years (mean±SD)	Daily time	Exposure duration	Time point for outcome measure
Ay9	PEMF	Hot pack, TENS	55	Knee	58.9±8.8	70.0	NA	3.6±4.6	30 min	3 weeks (15 sessions)	After treatment
Ay9	Placebo	Hot pack, TENS	55	Knee	57.7±6.5	76.0	NA	3.5±4.1	30 min	3 weeks (15 sessions)	After treatment
Bagnato10	PEMF	None	60	Knee	67.7±10.9	70.0	27.4±4.3	12.1±8.2	A minimum of 12 hours	1 month (30 sessions)	1 month
Bagnato10	Placebo	None	60	Knee	68.6±11.9	73.3	27.7±4.6	12.4±9.1	A minimum of 12 hours	1 month (30 sessions)	1 month
Fischer11	PEMF	None	71	Knee	52.1±1.9	71.4	29.2±1.0	6.8±0.7	16 min	6 weeks (42 sessions)	Therapy-end, 4 weeks after therapy-end
Fischer11	Placebo	None	71	Knee	62.1±1.5	72.2	29.4±0.7	6.2±0.6	16 min	6 weeks (42 sessions)	Therapy-end, 4 weeks after therapy-end
Lee13	PEMF	None	51	Knee	63.5±8.9	8.0	26.1±3.1	12.7±7.5	30 min	6 weeks (18 sessions)	3, 6 weeks during treatment, 4 weeks after finishing
Lee13	Placebo	None	51	Knee	66.2±8.8	11.5	27.1±3.7	12.8±7.6	30 min	6 weeks (18 sessions)	3, 6 weeks during treatment, 4 weeks after finishing
Nelson14	PEMF	Current standard of care	34	Knee	55.5±2.5	73.7	33.5±1.9	NA	15 min	6 weeks (84 sessions)	14, 29, 42 days
Nelson14	Placebo	Current standard of care	34	Knee	58.4±2.5	66.7	34.7±1.7	NA	15 min	6 weeks (84 sessions)	14, 29, 42 days
Nicolakis15	PEMF	None	36	Knee	69.0±5.0	73.3	NA	NA	30 min	6 weeks (84 sessions)	After treatment
Nicolakis15	Placebo	None	36	Knee	67.0±7.0	47.1	NA	NA	30 min	6 weeks (84 sessions)	After treatment
Pipitone16	PEMF	None	75	Knee	62.0 (40–84) *	35.3	NA	4.0 (1.0–18.0) *	10 min and three times a day	6 weeks	2, 4, 6 weeks after study entry
Pipitone16	Placebo	None	75	Knee	64.0 (48–84) *	20.0	NA	8.0 (0.5–31.0) *	10 min and three times a day	6 weeks	2, 4, 6 weeks after study entry
Tejero Sánchez18	PEMF	None	83	Knee	67.4±8.7	87.9	NA	NA	30 min	20 sessions	The end of therapy, 1 month after therapy
Tejero Sánchez18	Placebo	None	83	Knee	68.0±8.3	88.2	NA	NA	30 min	20 sessions	The end of therapy, 1 month after therapy
Thamsborg19	PEMF	None	83	Knee	60.4±8.7	46.5	27.0±4.0	7.5±5.2	2 hours	6 weeks (30 sessions)	2 weeks, end of treatment, 6 weeks after end of treatment
Thamsborg19	Placebo	None	83	Knee	59.6±8.6	61.0	27.5±5.7	7.9±7.7	2 hours	6 weeks (30 sessions)	2 weeks, end of treatment, 6 weeks after end of treatment
Trock20 †	PEMF	Do not change basic therapeutic regimen	86	Knee	69.2±11.5	69.0	NA	9.1±8.9	30 min	4–5 weeks (18 sessions)	Midway of therapy, the last treatment, and 1 month later
Trock20 †	Placebo	Do not change basic therapeutic regimen	86	Knee	65.8±11.7	70.5	NA	7.4±7.2	30 min	4–5 weeks (18 sessions)	Midway of therapy, the last treatment, and 1 month later
Sutbeyaz17	PEMF	None	34	Cervical	43.2±10.3	64.7	NA	NA	30 min	3 weeks (42 sessions)	After treatment
Sutbeyaz17	Placebo	None	34	Cervical	42.1±10.1	66.7	NA	NA	30 min	3 weeks (42 sessions)	After treatment
Trock20 †	PEMF	Do not change basic therapeutic regimen	81	Cervical	61.2±13.4	28.6	NA	7.4±6.7	30 min	4–5 weeks (18 sessions)	Midway of therapy, the last treatment, and 1 month later
Trock20 †	Placebo	Do not change basic therapeutic regimen	81	Cervical	67.4±8.0	30.8	NA	8.1±8.0	30 min	4–5 weeks (18 sessions)	Midway of therapy, the last treatment, and 1 month later
Kanat12	PEMF	Active range of motion and resistive exerciss	50	Hand	64.0±2.60	NA	NA	5.01±2.3	20 min	10 days	After treatment
Kanat12	Placebo	Active range of motion and resistive exerciss	50	Hand	62.0±2.40	NA	NA	4.31±4.7	20 min	10 days	After treatment

*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.