Overview Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMF) Therapy |
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Overview Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMF) Therapy |
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How does it Work ? We apply a low-frequency, low-power pulsed magnetic field to the patient through an air-coil. Nothing electrical at any time touches the body, and there is no sensation of the treatment. These low-power pulsing magnetic fields produce tiny electrical currents within the affected joint. These carefully-designed signals encourage the body to accelerate the healing process and are completely safe. After examination or referral, you will receive a personalized therapy tailored to your individual medical needs. |
| How long does it take? The therapy typically takes ten sessions of 20-40 minutes each. Your stay at the facility is in a relaxed atmosphere. You typically feel pain relief after the fourth to seventh session, and experience continued benefits after completing the program. Thousands of patients worldwide have achieved long-term results from this therapy which, in most cases, have changed their life-style. |
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What to Expect
Welcome
to BioMagnetic Medical Institute, Inc., (BioMag) specializing in the treatment of
arthritis and sports injuries. We are pleased
you made the choice to seek pain relief and physical wellness. This patient information brochure will assist you
in understanding the features and benefits of Alpha Pulse Therapy. As
a new patient, or someone seeking additional relief, it is helpful for you to understand
the essential benefits of Alpha Pulse Therapy, and how it relates to your medical
condition. First
Things First You
should be sure that any handbags or wallets containing credit cards are kept away from the
therapy unit. Magnetic fields extend up to two feet from the device and may erase magnetic
strips on the back of credit cards. If you
have a wind-up watch, you may also wish to remove it from the therapy room. Normal electronic watches are unaffected. Clothing There
is no need to have special clothing for the therapy, as the magnetic fields completely
penetrate the entire body as well as any clothing items, and fill up the enclosure of the
therapy coil. You will find it more
comfortable, however, to remove your shoes prior to using the large coil, or having your
feet treated with the small coil. What
it is We
apply a low frequency, low power pulsed magnetic field to the affected body part through
an air-coil. Nothing electrical at any time
touches the body, and there is no sensation of the treatment, as the power densities are
below the sensory level. The pulsed magnetic
field causes a signal that researchers call the “bio-magnetic” signal to be
placed in the affected body part. Researchers
theorize this signal causes the body to initiate and accelerate the healing process. We call this “Alpha Pulse Therapy.” In common use in Europe, this therapy is also
used in the U.S. for bone fracture healing, where it is a $200 million business. Worldwide, over 300,000 patients have been
reported using this therapy, with no case of adverse reaction. What
We Do Not Treat Patients
who are pregnant or have a diagnosed cancer or stomach bleeding are excluded from the
treatment in that area. Your
Current Medication We
suggest you not alter your current medication, especially if under a physicians'
recommendation. After therapy, you may wish to cut down on the dosage as required. In this case, check with your physician. We suggest you not start any new medication while
under the course of the therapy, as you will not want any confusion as to the cause of
your future improvement. This is also why we
do not administer any analgesic creams or topical medications. Your
Current Activities ...may
remain the same while under therapy. We strongly encourage you to not undertake any new
strenuous activities during or immediately following the therapy, as the newly found pain
relief may cause you to believe you can undertake new activities that your muscles are not
prepared for. The lack of normal muscular
use in arthritis patients, brought upon by the constant pain, causes muscle strength to
decrease in time. A sudden absence of pain
still leaves the muscles in their weakened state. It will be necessary for you to rebuild
your strength before undertaking a full range of activities. This patient information
brochure includes a series of re-conditioning exercises, which are part of your over-all
therapy. Resuming a new activity too soon may
cause you to experience an unnecessary injury. Possible
Injuries subsequent to newly found pain relief
Nutrition Our
policy at the Institute is that a well-balanced diet is the only thing necessary to ensure
proper maintenance of tissues under repair by Alpha Pulse Therapy. If you believe your eating habits are not
conducive to good nutrition, we may recommend certain supplements and minerals. We would
greatly prefer, however, that your nutrition be improved so that these aids would be
unnecessary. Length of the Benefit Patients have been tracked (anecdotally) for 4-10 years after therapy and
have retained the benefit provided they did not re-injure themselves or were excessively
overweight. If you re-injure yourself or
otherwise find the pain returning, we have found that a smaller (i.e., 50%) course of
treatment is indicated to restore your benefit, as the body seems to respond more readily
to the second session. A common cause of re-injury is excessive weight. The joints of the body’s system are not designed to accommodate excessive weight. If your body weight is in excess of 20% of your normal weight, you may re-injure the treated joint, just by the constant compression of the articular cartilage. Unless
you have an autoimmune disease such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), you may regard this
therapy as "permanent" to the extent our bodies are naturally declining with
age. If you have an autoimmune disease, your
course of treatment will be different. The therapy in most instances should reverse the
effects of RA, and will continue to hold the degenerative effects of RA at bay, but will
not cure the disease. A maintenance program
for the treatment of RA is usually in order. What
to Expect The
therapy is medication-free and non-invasive. During
the course of treatment, your body receives signals in the form of magnetic impulses that
cause tiny electrical currents in the tissue. These
currents are similar to the body's own natural "repair signals." These signals encourage the affected part to speed
the repair process by increasing blood flow, oxygen transport and enzyme production. In addition, it increases the production of a
chemical known as Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), which is essential for re-building
tissues. Your response will depend on your
unique physical situation, but will give general guidelines below: Our
standard series is ten sessions and twenty sessions for chronic patients, with each
session uniquely prescribed. This table
refers (unless noted) to our ten session series.
What
to expect for grades of OA (these
are general guidelines - your results may vary)
Patient's Experiences, Changes, or What You Should
Look For
Note: these changes are subtle and gradual. You will notice things are different when you are
least expecting it. You will have to be
aware of these changes and look for them as they occur. What
you will Experience Alpha
Pulse Therapy works to increase blood flow, oxygen transport, enzyme production and
tissue-building reactions. The frequencies
used by the therapy are close to the body's own natural frequencies, hence you may fall
asleep while being treated in the neck and shoulder area.
One of our mottos is, "the only thing you feel is better." Certainly, the therapy operates below the sensory
level, but while being treated, certain bodily changes are taking place. This is a partial list of changes you may notice: Effects
noticed while under therapy
The
"adaptation" phase is commonly seen as:
The
"adaptation or reaction phase" is a sign of increased metabolic activity. If the affected joint has been relatively
immobile, or the nerve endings have become de-sensitized by the continual application of
pain medication, the Alpha Pulse Therapy will "wake-up" these joints so the body
may initiate the repair process. In the case
of a chronic condition, your body has de-sensitized the local joint pain, but now the
therapy will seek to reactivate these tissues. The
tissues will become more sensitive, and therefore it
may feel worse before it feels better. You
should report the onset of the reaction phase to the therapist, as to when it starts, and
when it ends (the pain starts to diminish). The
adaptation phase is a temporary period while the body is adjusting to the therapy.
Description.
Alpha Pulse Therapy (APT - the commercial
description) uses low level, pulsed electromagnetic (EM) fields to deliver a signal to
cellular structures, which the body interprets as a "repair signal." The
frequencies used are within the body's own natural range (1 - 50 Hz), and the magnetic
field does not directly heat or damage tissue.[1] Background. Anecdotal stories of the use of magnets as
therapeutic aids abound in Western and Eastern medical literature. The term Pulsed
Electromagnetic Fields (PEMF) was used to describe this technology, which began in the
late 1970's, with most of the research performed in Europe. Research in the US was stalled
due to over-zealous environmental concerns. Advances
in electronic and biologic technology in the last 15 years have now made it possible to
construct a clinic device, which causes predictable therapeutic applications.
Safety. A commercial version of PEMF technology described
as a "bone-growth stimulator" has been used in excess of 300,000 patients
worldwide[i]
with no deleterious side effects. In 1987, the World Health Organization issued a report,
which declared these devices safe for clinical use. Contrary to earlier fears about EM
fields, later studies have effectively shown no deleterious side effects.[ii]
How
it Works. Researchers theorize the proper
"signatures” (combination of pulse shape, frequency and intensity) applied to a
given cellular structure is interpreted by the body as a "repair signal,” in the
form of tiny induced electrical currents, shown to encourage bone and cartilage growth. Although the body’s healing response is
always present, the PEMF signature has an “amplifying effect" when supplied
exogenously. Thus, parameters such as blood
flow, oxygen transmission, enzyme production, ion flow across the cellular membrane, etc.,
are all influenced positively such that a resident pathological condition experiences
accelerated healing with the body’s own natural processes. Modern technology has identified these signals and
now makes possible a device to safely deliver them to the body. Areas
Successfully Treated with Supervised Clinical Trials[iv]
Areas
under Current Investigation[v]
Applications
to Neurological Conditions
Although
not fully explored, clinical data shows promise in treating various neurological
conditions. A unique signature exists for a
given condition. For example, recent studies
by Sandyk and others[vi]
have caused dramatic remission in multiple sclerosis.
As an accompanying feature, AP Therapy can relieve or perhaps
eliminate the threat caused by pressure sores frequently developed by spinal injury
patients, as the PEMF signal dramatically increases blood flow in the affected area.[vii]Clinical
results of AP Therapy using the Alphatron 4100 have frequently seen dramatic
results on a PEMF routine based on previous observations for “like tissues.” ix Unique
Therapy Technology
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