One of the most common health issues that adults face is joint issues.
Though they are most common among the elderly, many physically active people also end up with joint problems at a young age.
Joints that are exposed to a lot of wear and tear, like the elbows and knees, are the most likely to suffer from problems.
Fortunately, alternative therapies like PEMF can be useful.
PEMF is a type of therapy that is proven to lower pain and inflammation, so it can help to heal tissues and manage joint problem symptoms.
Why Do Joints Get Damaged?
Joints are an important part of the body because they are the hinges between each of your bones.
However, when a joint is used over and over, the tissue in the joint can get damaged.
Common areas for damage are the elbows, hips, ankles, shoulders, and knees.
Any sort of problem in the joints ends up causing inflammation.
This swelling is both uncomfortable and makes it difficult to move.
How Can You Tell If You Have Joint Problems?
At first, you may not notice any serious problems. Joint issues start out as mild pain when moving, swelling around a joint, tenderness when the joint is pressed, or redness at the joint.
However, it can gradually worsen until the joint gets deformed, locks into place temporarily during movement, or cannot move at all.
What Causes Joint Problems to Develop?
Joint issues can have many types of underlying causes.
The most common issue is arthritis, a type of inflammation, and wear associated with old age.
Other potential causes include injuries that damage the joint or health conditions like gout, bursitis, tendinitis, and fibromyalgia.
Some people may also get joint issues from serious diseases like rheumatic fever, bone cancer, hypothyroidism, rickets, or lupus.
Roughly one in three people over the age of 18 have joint problems, and the most common issue is the knee joints.
How Can You Treat Joint Problems?
More mild versions of joint problems can be treated at home.
Taking care of your joint at home typically involves resting it, putting ice on it, and elevating it.
Over the counter medications can also be used for relief.
Basic painkillers like naproxen and ibuprofen reduce inflammation, while certain creams that have methyl salicylate or capsaicin can cut back on pain too.
However, if you have a chronic joint problem that cannot be managed with basic medications, you might need to talk to your doctor about injections.
These injections directly apply anti-inflammatory steroids to the joint, and they provide relief for a few months.
Another medical option is a procedure that removes excess fluid or injects a lubricating material into the joint to make it easier to move.
Non-medical treatments like physical therapy can be useful.
A good physical therapist will show you how to build muscle around the joint, so the muscles can stabilize your joints and make it easier to move them around.
Physical therapists may also be able to provide a type of electrical stimulation of the nerves that can reduce your joint issues.
What Does PEMF Therapy Do for Joint Problems?
PEMF stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field, and it is a type of therapy that can be useful for those dealing with joint problems.
The reason that PEMF therapy and joint problems are so closely related is due to inflammation.
Inflammation is a type of bodily function that happens when lymphocytes, cells in the immune system, become activated.
Lymphocytes are supposed to help fight off harmful bacteria and keep your body safe, but if they remain active for too long, they can end up hurting your own cells.
Almost all people with joint problems have an excessive inflammatory response that ends up hurting their delicate joints.
The way that PEMF therapy works to reduce joint issues is by turning off the lymphocytes.
The pulses of electromagnetic waves help to halt the inflammation in the part of the body they are directed towards.
Typically, you can expect to see results within two to three days of using PEMF therapy.
Repeated use can completely get rid of inflammation.
Those with joint issues normally respond best to higher frequency PEMF therapy of roughly 50 hertz.
What Research Has to Say About PEMF Therapy and Joint Problems
In theory, it is obvious that PEMF therapy can be helpful for joint problems.
It is also useful to learn a little about the documented results on the subject.
In 2011, a study from the Annals of Internal Medicine journal examined over 30 years of data about knee pain.
They discovered that the number of people requiring knee surgery continues to rise over the years.
Fortunately, a 2013 study from the Clinical Interventions in Aging journal studied arthritis patients who received PEMF therapy on one knee three times a week.
They found that the knee that got PEMF therapy had less pain and stiffness than the control knee that did not have the treatment.
In the same year, the Rheumatology journal also looked at PEMF therapy and knee pain.
They found that four to eight weeks of PEMF therapy was enough to reduce pain, and two months of therapy helped to improve overall function.
Research consistently shows that PEMF therapy has real and lasting results compared to other types of treatment.
It is helpful for those with chronic joint pain and pain due to a temporary injury.
Conclusion
Almost all people end up dealing with joint issues at some time or another.
A damaged joint can be very uncomfortable and make it more difficult to move around, so it is important to seek treatment for it.
Things like over the counter painkillers may provide temporary relief, but for long-lasting treatment, you need something to halt the inflammation that is damaging the joint.
Since PEMF can lessen pain, increase blood flow to an area, treat nerve damage, and lower inflammation, it is a very effective method for managing joint problems.
