Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Real-Time Pre & Post Imaging of PEMF Treatment

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Device used in this test demo is courtesy of Aura Wellness PEMF under no commercial obligation



Introduction: “BEFORE AND AFTER” Comparative Imaging
Historically speaking, the most favored (and sensible) way to identify the results of any treatment is by tracking the body's response to it. Controlled testing must show the patient's condition PRE and POST effects, where true data-finding is collecting the necessary EVIDENCE of its claims. The investigator can pull a significant amount of data from this form of validation testing: including stage-by-stage bodily response to future projections of possible side effects.  Recording of any and all physiological response means the researchers are counting on the patient's body to tell us what it is undergoing during the testing phase. To reduce any chance of erroneous reporting, trials tend to work with a large number of test patients (commonly 50-100) and may also employ redundancies like undergoing multiple testing protocols for a second or even third opinion. To capture the benefits of a BEFORE AND AFTER review, Imaging is often used as a standard screening solution for the response of most of the major organs.


ULTRASOUND INTERPRETATION 101: “BEFORE THERAPY”
Modern diagnostic science looks to imaging for its safe, non-invasive yet quantifiable analyses of what’s under the skin. In this latest review, ultrasound offers a flicker-free visual (10-30 frames per second) of muscle contraction.  The “real-time” advantage of video under a 3D Doppler Ultrasound easily and clearly shows the frequency of the muscle bundle’s firing (twitching) indicating fatigue and potential pathology.

I chose to test drive a top-of-the-line medical grade PEMF device on my own quadriceps (thigh) which has been heavily weakened by years of wear and tear and injury.  In addition, I acquired the latest upgrade in 3D Ultrasound probes to explore the current state of this muscle.  From the video (insert) the sonogram shows the Rectus Femoris branch of the four part, quadriceps muscle complex. As you can see, in this transverse or cross sectional scan, we see a muscle bundle rapidly twitching or firing, which indicates muscle fatigue or injury. 

NOTE: On the top white line of the scan is a thin black margin which is the epidermis of the skin measuring 2/10 of a millimeter.  This high resolution technology extends to the lower portion of the image where the abnormal muscle is noted. 3d imaging allows the scan to be quickly reproduced and quantifiably analyzed on follow up examinations



QUANTITATIVE IMAGING: “AFTER THERAPY” using ELECTROMAGNETIC COIL TREATMENT
This BEFORE AND AFTER study validates the benefits of 3D ultrasound and its ‘actual-motion’ imaging and treated area responds to the therapy. Comparing to its condition before treatment with the magnetic coil, we are able to see the muscle contractions of the significantly weakened quadriceps femoris (hip flexor/knee extensor).  After 15 minutes with a PEMF device (under efficacy review), an immediate scan with realtime ultrasound shows a significant reduction in muscle contractions.  Both visually and through the ultrasound motion metrics, we are able to record an est. 35-45% calming and relaxation of the intensified muscle and contractility. This impression is repeated from various scanning angles including a longitudinal view of the same area.

There are two ways of quantifying abnormal movement; one is using the motion mode- which is used most often in scanning the heart because this probe feature allows you to visually track the motion of the valves instantaneously. Many hospital grade models can identify heart movements digitally as well as other organ movements thanks to Doppler technology [1] and AI induced presets. We can use this same motion mode on the twitching muscle fibers.

“GOING WIDE” AFTER THE BASE LINE
The research benefits of using ultrasound scanning in therapeutic monitoring allows for tremendous flexibility in exploratory detection. Once we have established the initial Base Line of the ‘before and after’ scan, having probe in hand empowers the diagnostician to go deeper and wider- allowing for more answers and possibly finding other pathologies.  

After we looked at the obvious muscle abnormality, the question is to go back and see what's causing the problem. Upon observing what’s under the white skin area (Fig 3), there appears a very thick white band (FASCIA covering the muscle) between the two dark layers of the subcutaneous fat and the muscle.  We notice that the fascia splits into two levels with the upper arrows, denoting the top part of the split and the lower arrows showing the bottom part of the split. The black area in the split is filled with fluid indicating the fascia lining is abnormal and this is a way that we can follow the cause for the muscle irritation in future tracking. 

For now, we see an immediate cause and effect, which is the inflamed fascia lining and that the PEMF does in fact calm down the muscle.  Ultrasound provides the opportunity to follow the treatment and see how the facial abnormality is healing. So we have a way of finding pathology and then discovering the causation and documenting treatment progress as well with non-invasive imaging, that is brilliant. 


PEMF TREATMENT AND PAIN MANAGEMENT
Pain management is a widely expanding industry offering an extensive list of both conventional and alternative solutions.  Beyond oral medications, point of care treatments and surgical applications, today’s pain sufferer also benefits from an even wider set of options from the “ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT” catalog.  

One example is the widely expanding advancements in neuromagnetic therapies, otherwise known as PEMF or BIOFEEDBACK.  MAGNETIC THERAPY has been recorded for over 2000 years (Greek physicians in 200BC using lodestones), but it was the evolution of the management of the body’s electromagnetic field through ELECTROTHERAPY with Dr. Guillaume Duchene who first used electricity for muscle stimulation in 1856.  Nikola Tesla researched on the potential of pulsed electrotherapy in 1897 just before his invention of the Tesla coil in 1891. This inspired global research and development in the therapeutic community, such that by 1998, the FDA accepted PEMF as “a viable treatment for pain” and PEMF therapy has been FDA approved for a variety of kinds of pain and inflammation. [2]


1) https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/genus

2) https://pemfcomplete.com/the-history-of-pemf-machines/





TMS FOR DEPRESSION: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
October 4, 2021- TMS, or transcranial magnetic stimulation, is the use of magnets external to the body to activate tissue inside the body (so you're not having to open the patient up).  Based on Faraday’s Law, a magnetic field produced outside of a patient’s head can permeate non-invasively through a patient’s head and induce an electric field that has the capacity to activate neurons in the brain. We induce current at a distance inside the brain and cause the neurons to fire where we induce that current.  This means that where we depolarize, we cause the brains neurons to fire.  TMS artificially stimulates the brain and causes the neurons to fire.  Navigation technology allows us to see precisely where in the brain where we are stimulating. (see complete article)




MEDTECH REVIEWS: PEMF Therapy
September 25, 2021 - In 1979, The Food and Drug Administration 1979 approved PEMF Therapy for the healing of nonunion fractures. Electrical stimulation of the spine (as part of spinal fusion procedures) for failed fusions and congenital pseudarthroses. In October 2008 the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of PEMF therapy for treatment of major depressive disorder in PD patients who failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from very high dosages of antidepressant medications.  Clinical research has also been highly dedicated towards mental health. In 2006, the FDA approved PEMF Therapy for treatment of depression and anxiety. Further reports have presented an est. 30% of depression cases have a resistance to antidepressant drugs, where Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and the application of Transcranially applied Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (T-PEMF) has shown positive results in combination with antidepressants in patients with treatment-resistant depression. (see complete article)

Video excerpts

Diane's work (get password) Diane Pinson (BETA interview) J. Graziano 1: Cryotherapy J. Edden:  Cyotherapy Experience 12-3  LG ...