Applications and Future Perspective of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields in Foot and Ankle Sport-Related Injuries

• Published in: Applied sciences Vol. 13; no. 9; p. 5807
• Main Authors: Mazzotti, Antonio, Langone, Laura, Artioli, Elena, Zielli, Simone Ottavio, Arceri, Alberto, Setti, Stefania, Leigheb, Massimiliano, Samaila, Elena Manuela, Faldini, Cesare
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-05-2023
• Subjects: Adenosine; Ankle; Athletes; Bone marrow; bone marrow edema; Care and treatment; Cartilage; Cartilage (articular); Cytokines; Degeneration; Edema; Electromagnetic fields; Electromagnetism; Extracellular matrix; Feet; Fractures; Injuries; Joints (anatomy); Magnetic resonance imaging; Necrosis; nonunion; Osteogenesis; Pain; Patients; physical therapy; Physiology; pulsed electromagnetic fields; Quality of life; Recovery (Medical); Sports injuries; Sports related injuries; Tissue engineering; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 2076-3417; 2076-3417
• DOI: 10.3390/app13095807

Foot and ankle injuries are common in many sports. One of the main athletes issues is the time for sport resumption after trauma. Recently, extensive efforts have been made to speed up the athletes’ return-to-sport and to prevent joint degeneration. Among the conservative treatment options, biophysical stimulation with pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) is listed. This narrative review aims to outline current applications of PEMFs in main foot and ankle sport-related injuries, in particular in the treatment of bone marrow edema, osteochondral defects, fractures, and nonunions. Despite further high-quality studies on foot and ankle injuries are needed, PEMFs seem to be a valid aid to enhance the endogenous osteogenesis, to resolve the bone marrow edema, to inhibit the joint inflammation, preserving articular cartilage degeneration, and to relieve pain.