When
NASA
sent its astronauts to live in space for extended periods of time, they realized the reduction in exposure to the earth’s magnetic field had an adverse health effect. One study, put out by the NASA’s Johnson Space Center, entitled “Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields – A Countermeasure for Bone Loss and Muscle Atrophy,” stated the following:
Currently, there is a critical need to develop effective countermeasures for bone loss and muscle atrophy to enable future human space exploration to the moon, Mars and beyond. Progressive muscle atrophy can lead to weakness, fatigue, the inability to perform efficiently assigned tasks, and compromised emergency egress operations. Bone loss causes increased risk of bone fracture and kidney stones, which can also negatively affect mission objectives and success.
To rectify this problem NASA researched the positive effects of PEMF.
The purpose of these studies is to develop a pulsed electromagnetic field device for use as a noninvasive countermeasure to enhance bone retention, prevent or alleviate muscle atrophy, and augment natural healing/regeneration processes.
This research represents a major contribution toward enabling humans to live and work safely in space, and is especially relevant to projected human space exploration. On Earth, this device could be useful in the treatment of various muscle diseases, age- and cancer-related muscle atrophy, osteoporosis, and other bone diseases.
Bone Mending/Wound Healing
Improving bone density and wound healing
PEMF treatments improves the quality of calcium produced and mends bones in one-third of the normal time. The skin of the bone seems to develop cells more like the DNA dictates. PEMFs work to repair bones, whether damaged by surgery, injury, or disease and have been found to improve bone regeneration such as occurs with osteoporosis and osteopenia, among other bone destroying conditions.
Because PEMF supports cellular health, damaged tissue and wounds generally heal much faster, in one-third to one-half the time with less scarring.
Stress Reduction
Relaxation and deep tissue massage through pulsating muscle stimulation.
Stress is part of being human. Normal stress, called eustress, is necessary for survival. Too much stress is very harmful to the body and accelerates aging. Stress is responsible for at least 65% of our illnesses, so stress reduction is necessary for all of us. Stress-reducing activities performed only now and then will allow too much stress-related damage to accumulate over time. PEMF has stress-reducing effects. Regular use of PEMF can help to reduce the negative effects natural stresses have on our bodies. There is an apparent relaxing of the vascular system within minutes of completing a PEMF session, which lowers the heart rate and can drop blood pressure by 20% to 30%.
Increased Circulation
One of the most basic effects magnetic fields have on the body is increased circulation, not by increasing heartbeat or blood pressure, but by opening and dilating the arteries and capillaries. When a cell (such as a red blood cell) does not hold its ideal charge, the red blood cells can “stick” together and stack like coins, which is called the Rouleau effect. This effect inhibits proper cell oxygenation to the cells because the red blood cells do not circulate well enough to deliver oxygen where it is needed.
There is a simple explanation why the Rouleau effect occurs, and it is related to voltage. When your cellular voltage is low the positive charge on the outside of the cell is diminished, which allows the cells to stick together. When a magnetic field passes through the cell, the membrane becomes properly charged, allowing the cell to repel itself and keep separate from other cells, thereby increasing circulation. Good circulation helps tissues with cellular function (get the nutrition they need, while expelling the waste they produce), nutrition, healing, and regeneration. Poor circulation makes tissues unhealthy and prone to disease and breakdown.
Improved Blood Oxygenation
Just as a fire cannot burn without oxygen, our cells cannot produce heat and energy without oxygen. PEMF helps with the process of extracting oxygen out of the air we breathe and helps it to be better transported into circulation. The absorbed oxygen is then transported through the body to all the cells, where it is absorbed into the individual cells. Proper blood-oxygen levels at the cell level (not just in the blood) allow this process to continue quickly and efficiently.
Decreased Inflammation
Increased range of motion and reduction of pain.
Inflammation is a necessary and beneficial process, but it often persists longer than necessary resulting in chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is frequently a cause of chronic pain. PEMF therapy has been found to reduce chronic and damaging inflammation. Inflammation can be initiated by many causes and understanding the nature of the cause is important in designing therapeutic approaches
.
Pain Relief – Neck, Back, Joints
With no medication, often with immediate and lasting response.
PEMF has been shown to provide long-lasting, immediate pain relief within just a few minutes of the initial session to those suffering from chronic or acute pain. The ways by which PEMF relieves pain include pain blocking, decreasing inflammation, increasing cellular flexibility, increasing blood and lymph circulation, and increasing tissue oxygenation.
Athletic Recovery
Performance enhancement, accelerated recovery, and overall health maintenance
All athletes, no matter the age, can benefit from PEMF. In addition to the accelerated healing from injuries, PEMF can help you recover quickly from the body soreness that could otherwise keep you out of the gym or on the sideline. All injuries produce swelling and inflammation in the tissues, as does exercise itself. Swelling and inflammation delays the ability of the tissues to be nourished with oxygen and nutrients, which is why you see athletes frequently being treated with ice packs. Ice packs reduce superficial swelling, but ice also reduces blood circulation
which is required to accelerate healing of the injured area, significantly extending the athletes recovery period.
PEMF penetrates tissues deeply without risk to the superficial tissues, while also reducing swelling and speeding up the removal of blood in a bruise, leading to faster recovery and return to activity, competition, or training. By using PEMF, traumatized tissue and edema get reduced significantly faster without the use of painkillers or other drugs. PEMF therapy reduces the incidents of torn muscles and ligaments, and other related injuries. Due to this increased synthesis of repair proteins, a faster healing process is achieved helping prevent sports related disabilities and chronic conditions.
By supporting removal of the toxins and lactic acid from the cells (detoxification), using PEMF after exercise can reduce soreness, muscle spasms, cramping, and the breakdown of tissues.
Enhanced Muscle Function
Endurance, strength, and accelerated recovery.
Muscle energy production improves following PEMF therapy sessions. This allows muscles to work harder and longer, and recover more quickly from their work. PEMFs maximize growth factors by increasing nitric oxide production effectively reducing exercised induced inflammation and improving vascular function.
For anyone trying to improve strength and muscles size, PEMF can help maximize that process. This would apply if you are in your later years treating sarcopenia (the medical term for muscle loss and weakness). It would also apply if you are just trying to recover from hard workouts to add lean muscle. Not only can PEMF help muscles recover faster, it also helps your entire nervous system recover faster as well. Faster recovery means better performance.