A Systematic Review on Effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy on Wound Surface Area in Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Abstract

Introduction

Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU) is a very common complication seen in Diabetes Mellitus. There are many approaches used in physiotherapy to manage DFU worldwide. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy is an advanced electrotherapeutic approach, which consists of magnetic field packed in impulse bundles which permeates the cells in the body simultaneously working at the cellular level, thus reaching all parts of the body. There is a dearth of literature available on the effect of PEMF on DFU.

Methods:- The systematic review was registered with PROSPERO. The keywords search included “PEMF” AND ‘DFU”. The databases searched include PubMed, Medline, PEDro, and Google Scholar and other database resources available for published and / or unpublished literature. All research articles till October 21, 2023are included. Bias is avoided as two different authors are reviewing the research articles independently and wherever a question of dispute arose a third author intervened.

Results:-A total of 109 articles were screened of which only three research articles were included in the systematic review. The research articles included in the systematic review were analyzed for a number of factors.

Discussion:- A brief summary of strengths and limitations of the three included research articles were noted.

Conclusion:- It concluded that PEMF therapy may be beneficial in the management of DFU as an alternative or adjunct to regular treatment or pharmacology.