PARKINSON'S RESEARCH

Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications of Electromagnetic Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease

(Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12993-015-0070-z)

Electromagnetic therapy opens a new avenue for PD treatment. Each electromagnetic therapy technique described in this review can be applied according to a single protocol or as a combination of different protocols specifically tailored to the PD patient’s needs.

Electromagnetic therapy can also be combined with pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatments, e.g. physical therapy and cognitive tasks, to produce additive or potentiated clinical effects.

In conclusion, electromagnetic therapy represents a non-invasive, safe and promising approach that can be used alone or combined with conventional therapies for the challenging treatment of PD motor and non-motor symptoms.

Effects of Transcranial Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Stimulation on Quality of Life in Parkinson’s Disease

(Link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ene.13637)

Pulsed electromagnetic fields induce a protective and anti-inflammatory effect in the nervous system primarily due to growth factor upregulation that possibly abates neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD).

In this double-blinded clinical study, 97 participants with idiopathic PD. Treatment with T-PEMFs entailed one daily 30-min home treatment for eight consecutive weeks.

The active group improved with respect to clinical effect size for the two dimensions, i.e. mobility and activities of daily living, compared with the placebo group. There were no between-group difference in adverse events. Treatment compliance was 97.9%.

Effects of Long-Term Treatment with T-PEMF on Forearm Muscle Activation and Motor Function in Parkinson’s Disease

(Link: https://karger.com/crn/article/10/2/242/88693)

Therapy was performed on a 62-year-old, medically well-treated man with idiopathic Parkinson’s. T-PEMF was performed 30 min per day for three 8-week periods separated by two 1-week breaks. The disease made his handwriting impossible to read mainly due to small letters and lack of fluency.

Conclusion: The intervention normalized the handwriting and forearm EMG. The UPDRS-motor score decreased from 25 to 17, and UPDRS-II-handwriting decreased from a pre-intervention value of 3 to 0 after the intervention.

Finally, the patient reported improved fine motor function, less muscle stiffness, less muscle cramps and tingling, and less fatigue during the day in response to the T-PEMF treatment. The improved handwriting lasted for approximately 3 months after the treatment.