Extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) reduces oxidative stress and improves functional and psychological status in ischemic stroke patients.
Cichoń N, Bijak M, Miller E, Saluk J. · 2017
View Original AbstractControlled magnetic field therapy at 7 milliTesla improved stroke recovery and antioxidant protection in patients.
Plain English Summary
Researchers studied 57 stroke patients who received either standard rehabilitation alone or rehabilitation plus daily exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (40 Hz) for four weeks. Patients exposed to the magnetic fields showed improved antioxidant enzyme activity in their blood and better functional recovery, including enhanced daily living skills and reduced depression scores compared to the control group.
Why This Matters
This study adds to growing evidence that certain EMF exposures may have therapeutic benefits rather than just harmful effects. The 7 milliTesla magnetic field used here is roughly 140 times stronger than typical household magnetic field exposures from appliances, representing a controlled therapeutic application rather than everyday environmental exposure. What makes this research particularly noteworthy is its focus on measurable clinical outcomes in stroke recovery, an area where conventional treatments often fall short. The correlation between improved antioxidant enzyme activity and better functional recovery suggests a biological mechanism behind the therapeutic effects. While this doesn't change concerns about chronic low-level EMF exposure from wireless devices, it demonstrates that the relationship between electromagnetic fields and human health is more nuanced than simple 'all EMF is harmful' narratives suggest.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 7 mG
- Source/Device
- 40 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 15 min/day for 4 weeks (5 days a week)
Exposure Context
This study used 7 mG for magnetic fields:
- 350Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 70Kx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 1 mG
Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of ELF-EMF on clinical and antioxidant status in post-stroke patients.
Fifty-seven patients were divided into two groups: ELF-EMF and non-ELF-EMF. Both groups underwent th...
Applied ELF-EMF significantly increased enzymatic antioxidant activity; however, TAS levels did not ...
Show BibTeX
@article{n_2017_extremely_low_frequency_electromagnetic_333,
author = {Cichoń N and Bijak M and Miller E and Saluk J.},
title = {Extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) reduces oxidative stress and improves functional and psychological status in ischemic stroke patients.},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1002/bem.22055},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.22055},
}