Technology
PEMF Glossary: Common Terms in Plain English
A plain-English PEMF glossary. Learn what PEMF, terahertz, intensity levels, EMS, sham-controlled and other device and study terms mean.
This PEMF glossary explains the words you will meet on device pages, in manuals and in studies. Each entry is short and uses everyday language. Skim it like a dictionary, or read it top to bottom once. It is part of our technology guides. If you want the bigger picture afterward, the technology hub and the PEMF explained page go further.
PEMF glossary: the basic words
- PEMF. Short for pulsed electromagnetic fields. A coil inside the device makes a magnetic field that switches on and off in quick pulses.
- Magnetic field. The invisible area around a magnet or an electric current where a magnetic force can be felt. A fridge magnet has one. So does a coil with electricity running through it.
- Coil. A wire wound into loops. When electricity passes through it, it makes a magnetic field.
- Pulse. A short burst that switches on, then off. PEMF devices send many pulses in a row.
- Frequency. How often something repeats. It is counted in hertz.
- Hertz (Hz). A unit that counts repeats per second. One hertz is one repeat each second. Kilohertz and megahertz are bigger steps up from there.
- Field strength. How strong a magnetic field is. It is measured in units called gauss or tesla. OlyLife describes intensity on its devices as levels, not as a field-strength number.
Words about terahertz and other technologies
- Terahertz. A band of electromagnetic waves that sits between microwaves and infrared light. OlyLife describes its terahertz band as 3–3000 µm. That is OlyLife's own description, not a test result.
- Wavelength. The distance between one wave peak and the next. Short wavelengths and high frequencies go together.
- Micrometre (µm). One millionth of a metre. Wavelengths in the terahertz band are often written in micrometres.
- RF (radio frequency). Radio-type waves. The Tera-P90+ lists RF among its technologies.
- EMS. Short for electrical muscle stimulation. It sends small electrical pulses through contact surfaces on the skin.
- TENS. Short for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. It is another way of sending small electrical pulses through the skin. The Tera-P90+ lists EMS and TENS among its technologies.
- Red light. Visible light at the red end of the colour range. The Revitaluxe handheld includes red light.
Words about device features
These terms describe how a device works day to day.
| Term | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| Intensity level | A setting you choose with the panel or remote. The Tera-P90 has levels 1–10 and the Tera-P90+ has levels 1–20. |
| Session timer | The built-in countdown. The Tera-P90 runs up to 30 minutes and the Tera-P90+ runs 20 minutes. |
| Auto-standby | On the Tera-P90, the device pauses when your feet leave the plates. |
| Remote | A hand-held controller that changes settings from your seat. |
| Handheld | A small device you hold in your hand, such as Frost Age or Revitaluxe. |
| Foot platform | The main unit with two plates where your bare feet rest. |
To see these features in action, read how a foot device session works, step by step.
Words you meet in studies
You may see these terms in research summaries. They describe how a study was set up.* These are independent studies of PEMF in general; none tested an OlyLife device.
- Randomized controlled trial (RCT). A study where people are placed into groups by chance. One group uses the real thing and another does not.
- Placebo. Something that looks like the real thing but does nothing. It helps researchers see what comes from simply taking part.
- Sham. A fake version of a device. It looks and sounds the same but does not deliver the real signal. A "sham-controlled" study compares the real device with a sham.
- Double-blind. Neither the people taking part nor the researchers know who has the real device until the study ends.
- Meta-analysis. A study that pools the results of many earlier studies into one larger picture.
- Systematic review. A careful, step-by-step search and summary of all the studies on one question.
Words about safety and labels
- General wellness product. A product designed for relaxation and everyday wellbeing. It is not a medical device and is not meant for any medical condition.
- Regulatory status. How a country's rules classify a product, such as a medical device or a general wellness product. Always check it when you compare devices.
- Do-not-use list. A list of situations where you should not use a device and should talk to your doctor first. OlyLife's list is on the safe use page.
- Look-alike. A copy sold under a similar name, often for much less. Look-alike "P90" devices on marketplaces are not OlyLife products.†
Where to go next
Words are easier with a picture in your mind. Start with terahertz explained to see where that band fits on the wave scale.