Extracorporeal magnetotransduction therapy (EMTT) for management of musculoskeletal disorders: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial

Background/ObjectivesMusculoskeletal pain limits function and quality of life worldwide. This study investigated whether Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Therapy (EMTT) improves pain and physical function in patients with degenerative joint diseases and enthesopathies.MethodsIn this single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 126 patients with >6 weeks of pain from knee osteoarthritis, rotator cuff enthesopathy, or lumbar spondyloarthrosis were randomized to EMTT (80 mT, 8 Hz, 10,000 pulses/session) or sham therapy once weekly for eight weeks. The primary outcome was quality of life measured by the SF-12 Physical (PCS) and Mental (MCS) Composite Scales. Secondary outcome was pain on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Differences were analyzed using the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test and Mann-Whitney estimator.ResultsBaseline PCS, MCS, and VAS were comparable between groups. At six weeks, EMTT led to significantly higher PCS (42.9 vs. 38.6, p < 0.001) and lower VAS pain (2.8 vs. 4.3, p < 0.001), with effects persisting at 12 weeks (PCS 45.5 vs. 38.7; VAS 2.2 vs. 4.2; all p < 0.001). MCS showed no significant differences. Mild discomfort and skin redness occurred more often with EMTT.ConclusionsEMTT appears effective in improving physical function and reducing pain in degenerative musculoskeletal conditions, with minor side effects.