Effect of repeated application of low-intensity pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on gait speed in older adults with a history of falls

摘要

To the Editor: Falls in older adults are a major healthcare issue worldwide, being associated with significant mortality, disability, costs and reduction of quality of life.1'2 In the last 2 decades, several tools have been developed to improve clinician's ability to predict falls and to identify individuals at high risk of falling. Gait speed has been demonstrated to be a particularly useful tool.A spectrum of rehabilitative and physical interventions have been shown to improve gait speed and gait parameters in older adults, potentially reducing fall risk. Low-intensity pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) have been used successfully for fracture healing and bone-implant osteointegration and are being investigated in the management of inflammation and other conditions.In an exploratory randomized placebo-controlled trial, a single 10-minute PEMF exposition was found to improve gait parameters in older adults.