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Utvärdering av effekterna av pulserande elektromagnetiskt fält på inflammatorisk knäartros

21 september 2026 uppdaterad av: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Dubbelblind, randomiserad kontrollerad pilotstudie för att bedöma effekten av pulserande elektromagnetiskt fält på inflammatorisk knäartros

This study will assess the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in patients with inflammatory knee osteoarthritis confirmed by MRI-detected effusion-synovitis. Fifty participants will be randomly allocated into two groups. One group will receive active PEMF therapy at a specific optimized parameter twice a week for 8 weeks, while the other group will receive sham treatment using the same device without PEMF signal. The primary outcome is the change in WOMAC pain score, and secondary outcomes include knee function, stiffness, quality of life, and MRI-quantified structural changes.

Studieöversikt

Detaljerad beskrivning

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a leading cause of pain and disability, posing a significant socioeconomic burden. Current treatments often focus on pain relief with safety concerns, and no disease-modifying drugs are available. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy is a non-invasive and safe physical modality with potential anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. However, existing evidence for its efficacy in KOA is inconsistent, likely because KOA is a heterogeneous disease, and previous studies have not targeted specific subtypes. The inflammatory KOA subtype, identifiable via MRI, is the most prevalent and represents a critical target for precise intervention.

Methods This study is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial. Fifty patients with inflammatory KOA, confirmed by the presence of effusion-synovitis on MRI will be recruited. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either active PEMF therapy at a specific, optimized parameter or sham treatment twice a week for 8 weeks. The primary outcome is the change in the WOMAC pain score at 3 months after treatment. Secondary outcomes include knee function and stiffness (WOMAC), quality of life (SF-12), and quantitatively assessed structural changes on MRI (e.g., effusion synovitis volume).

Expected Results The investigators anticipate that the group receiving active PEMF therapy will show a statistically significant and clinically important greater reduction in WOMAC pain scores compared to the sham treatment group.The investigators also expect to observe improvements in secondary outcomes, including better knee function and reduced signs of inflammation on MRI in the treatment group.

Conclusion This will be the first clinical trial to evaluate PEMF therapy specifically for the inflammatory subtype of KOA. Positive findings will provide crucial evidence for a novel, non-invasive, and precise therapeutic strategy for KOA management. This has the potential to improve patient care, alleviate the disease burden, and reduce healthcare costs.

Studietyp

Interventionell

Inskrivning (Beräknad)

50

Fas

  • Inte tillämpbar

Kontakter och platser

Det här avsnittet innehåller kontaktuppgifter för dem som genomför studien och information om var denna studie genomförs.

Studiekontakt

Deltagandekriterier

Forskare letar efter personer som passar en viss beskrivning, så kallade behörighetskriterier. Några exempel på dessa kriterier är en persons allmänna hälsotillstånd eller tidigare behandlingar.

Urvalskriterier

Åldrar som är berättigade till studier

55 år till 80 år (Vuxen, Äldre vuxen)

Tar emot friska volontärer

Nej

Kön som är behöriga för studier

Allt

Beskrivning

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Knee visual analogue scale (VAS) pain of <40 mm (0-100 mm)
  2. Effusion-synovitis or Hoffa synovitis MRI semi-quantitative score of ≥2 (used to determine inflammatory subtype KOA);
  3. Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade II and III
  4. Patients can listen, speak, read, and understand Chinese; understand the pilot study's requirements and are willing to cooperate with the investigator in conducting the pilot study
  5. Willing and able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Other inflammatory arthritis (e.g., gout, reactive arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and seronegative spondyloarthropathy) and systemic lupus erythematosus.
  2. Participants with usual KOA interventions/ treatments
  3. History of knee trauma
  4. Contraindications to MRI
  5. Administration of intra-articular, intramuscular, and oral glucocorticoids within the last 4
  6. Pregnancy and lactation

Studieplan

Det här avsnittet ger detaljer om studieplanen, inklusive hur studien är utformad och vad studien mäter.

Hur är studien utformad?

Designdetaljer

  • Primärt syfte: Behandling
  • Tilldelning: Randomiserad
  • Interventionsmodell: Parallellt uppdrag
  • Maskning: Dubbel

Vapen och interventioner

Deltagargrupp / Arm
Intervention / Behandling
Experimentell: PEMF Therapy Intervention Patients with inflammatory KOA receive active PEMF therapy with optimized

Active Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy Active PEMF therapy at specific optimized parameters, administered twice a week for 8 weeks

Assigned Interventions

Placebo-jämförare: : Sham PEMF Treatment Patients with inflammatory KOA receive sham PEMF treatment (no effective elect

Sham Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Treatments treatment (matching device without active electromagnetic field) administered twice a week for 8 weeks

Matching device without active electromagnetic field) administered twice a week for 8 weeks

Vad mäter studien?

Primära resultatmått

Resultatmått
Åtgärdsbeskrivning
Tidsram
Feasibility outcome:adherence
Tidsram: 3 months after treatment

Adherence will be calculated as the actual number of completed exercise days relative to the prescribed total.

3 months after treatment

Sekundära resultatmått

Resultatmått
Åtgärdsbeskrivning
Tidsram
Serum Levels of Inflammatory Markers and Adipokines
Tidsram: Baseline; 3 months after treatment

The serum concentrations of the following biomarker: Interleukin-6 (picograms per milliliter, pg/mL).

Baseline; 3 months after treatment
Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) pain score
Tidsram: Baseline; 3 months after treatment

The primary outcome will be the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) pain score. This scale consists of 5 questions assessing knee joint pain, each scored on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = no pain, 4 = extreme pain). The total score of the pain subscale ranges from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating a more severe degree of pain.

Baseline; 3 months after treatment
Measurement of biomarkers on MRI images of the knee
Tidsram: Baseline; 3 months after treatment

Cartilage defects (grades 0-4). A higher score indicates more severe pathology.

Baseline; 3 months after treatment
Ultrousound measurement
Tidsram: Baseline, 1and 3 months after treatment

The severity of the following pathologies will be assessed via ultrasonography using semi-quantitative scoring systems: Synovitis(0-3), Osteophytes(0-3), Cartilage damage(0-3). A higher score indicates more severe pathology.

Baseline, 1and 3 months after treatment
Six-Minute Walk Distance
Tidsram: Baseline;3 months after treatment

The total distance walked during the Six-Minute Walk Test, measured in meters (m).

Baseline;3 months after treatment
30-Second Chair Stand Test Repetitions
Tidsram: Baseline; 3 months after treatment]

The maximum number of repetitions of rising fully from a standard-height chair without using arms, sitting back down, and fully rising again, completed within 30 seconds.

Baseline; 3 months after treatment]
Timed Up and Go Test Time
Tidsram: Baseline; 3 months after treatment

The time required to complete the Timed Up and Go Test (rising from a chair, walking 3 meters, turning around, walking back, and sitting down), measured in seconds (s).

Baseline; 3 months after treatment
12-Item Short Form Health Survey Score
Tidsram: Baseline; 3 months after treatment

Assesses overall health-related quality of life. This scale comprises 12 items, which are aggregated into summary scores for physical and mental health. The scores are transformed to a range of 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better health status.

Baseline; 3 months after treatment
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Score
Tidsram: Baseline; 3 months after treatment

Assesses the severity of depressive symptoms. This scale consists of 9 items, each scored from 0 to 3. The total score ranges from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms.

Baseline; 3 months after treatment
Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) Stiffness Subscale Score
Tidsram: Baseline; 3 months after treatment

Assesses the severity of knee stiffness. This subscale contains 2 items, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = none, 4 = extreme). The total subscale score ranges from 0 to 8, with higher scores indicating worse stiffness.

Baseline; 3 months after treatment
Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) Physical Function Subscale Score
Tidsram: Baseline; 3 months after treatment

Assesses knee-related difficulty in performing daily activities. This subscale contains 17 items, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = none, 4 = extreme). The total subscale score ranges from 0 to 68, with higher scores indicating worse physical function.

Baseline; 3 months after treatment
Serum Levels of Interleukin-6
Tidsram: Baseline; 3 months after treatment

The serum concentrations of the following biomarkers will be measured: Interleukin-6 (picograms per milliliter, pg/mL)

Baseline; 3 months after treatment

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Studieavstämningsdatum

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Studera stora datum

Studiestart (Beräknad)

15 september 2026

Primärt slutförande (Beräknad)

31 december 2028

Avslutad studie (Beräknad)

31 december 2028

Studieregistreringsdatum

Först inskickad

10 december 2025

Först inskickad som uppfyllde QC-kriterierna

27 februari 2026

Första postat (Faktisk)

2 mars 2026

Uppdateringar av studier

Senaste uppdatering publicerad (Faktisk)

22 september 2026

Senaste inskickade uppdateringen som uppfyllde QC-kriterierna

21 september 2026

Senast verifierad

1 januari 2026

Mer information

Termer relaterade till denna studie

Andra studie-ID-nummer

  • HESEARS20231113002
  • 12231596 (Annat bidrag/finansieringsnummer: Health and Medical Research Fund)

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