Research library

Every study, side by side.

20 independent studies and records^* on PEMF and terahertz, each with a plain summary, its strength of evidence and what it found. Filter by topic and read the source yourself.

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• 18 Studies
• 8 Topics
• 12 Reviews of many trials
• 2026 Newest study

At a glance

What the studies found, by topic.

Each bar is one topic. The colors show what the studies in that topic reported.

• Physical Medicine Devices; Reclassification of Non-Invasive Bone Growth Stimulators U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Federal Register (Document 2026-07366) · 2026 · Regulatory record · Regulatory record · Regulatory record. Prescription non-invasive bone growth stimulators using electrical, magnetic or ultrasonic fields, long marketed under premarket approval, were reclassified by FDA from Class III to Class II. Read the source
• Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy for Mild-to-Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Lau KKL, et al. · Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle · 2026 · Randomized trial · Low evidence · Mixed results. PEMF improved knee extension strength at six months versus sham, but showed no difference in muscle mass, cartilage, mobility tests or patient-reported symptoms. Read on PubMed
• Effect of terahertz radiation on cells and cellular structures. Rytik AP, et al. · Frontiers of Optoelectronics · 2025 · Review · Very low evidence · Lab research only. This narrative review summarizes laboratory findings on how terahertz radiation of varying power and duration affects cell viability, and discusses open safety questions. Read on PubMed
• Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on bone fractures: a systematic review update. Picelli A, et al. · European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine · 2024 · Systematic review · Low evidence · No clear effect. None of the included trials found that PEMF improved acute fracture healing; findings on pain and functional recovery were contradictory. Read on PubMed
• Non-Thermal Effects of Terahertz Radiation on Gene Expression: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Dione MN, et al. · Genes · 2024 · Meta-analysis · Very low evidence · Lab research only. Laboratory terahertz exposure produced gene-expression changes linked to stress and immune responses, but no consistent gene pattern could be identified. Read on PubMed
• BEMER Therapy System Evo (510(k) K231368, Indications for Use) U.S. Food and Drug Administration · FDA 510(k) Premarket Notification Database · 2023 · Regulatory record · Regulatory record · Regulatory record. FDA cleared this electromagnetic therapy system as a Class II powered muscle stimulator to temporarily increase local circulation in healthy leg muscles and support muscle performance. Read the source
• Pain and Functional Scores in Patients Affected by Knee OA after Treatment with Pulsed Electromagnetic and Magnetic Fields: A Meta-Analysis. Viganò M, et al. · Cartilage · 2021 · Meta-analysis · Low evidence · Mixed results. PEMF reduced short-term knee osteoarthritis pain versus placebo, but showed no advantage over other conservative treatments such as physiotherapy, and benefits shrank with longer follow-up. Read on PubMed
• Analgesic effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields for mammaplasty: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. Zhang L, et al. · Medicine (Baltimore) · 2020 · Meta-analysis · Low evidence · Effect reported. Across four small trials, PEMF after breast surgery was associated with lower pain scores on days one and three and less pain medication use. Read on PubMed
• Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy on Pain, Stiffness, Physical Function, and Quality of Life in Patients With Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials. Yang X, et al. · Physical Therapy · 2020 · Meta-analysis · Moderate evidence · Effect reported. Across placebo-controlled trials, PEMF was associated with short-term improvements in osteoarthritis pain, stiffness and function; quality-of-life effects were not statistically confirmed. Read on PubMed
• Efficacy and safety of the pulsed electromagnetic field in osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis. Wu Z, et al. · BMJ Open · 2018 · Meta-analysis · Low evidence · Mixed results. PEMF outperformed sham for pain and function in knee and hand osteoarthritis but not cervical osteoarthritis; reported adverse events did not differ from sham. Read on PubMed
• Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on peripheral blood circulation in people with diabetes: A randomized controlled trial. Sun J, et al. · Bioelectromagnetics · 2016 · Randomized trial · Very low evidence · Mixed results. One PEMF session increased blood flow velocity in a small foot vein versus sham, but vein diameter and skin microcirculation measures did not differ. Read on PubMed
• Pulsed electromagnetic fields in knee osteoarthritis: a double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Bagnato GL, et al. · Rheumatology (Oxford) · 2016 · Randomized trial · Low evidence · Effect reported. A wearable PEMF device reduced pain scores versus placebo over one month in knee osteoarthritis; the WOMAC effect estimate was smaller and imprecise. Read on PubMed
• Electromagnetic therapy for treating pressure ulcers. Aziz Z, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2015 · Systematic review · Very low evidence · No clear effect. Neither trial found a significant difference in complete healing with electromagnetic therapy, and the review found no strong evidence of benefit. Read on PubMed
• Electromagnetic therapy for treating venous leg ulcers. Aziz Z, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2015 · Systematic review · Very low evidence · No clear effect. Results from three small sham-controlled trials were inconsistent, and the review concluded it is unclear whether electromagnetic therapy affects healing rates. Read on PubMed
• Effect of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty: a randomised controlled trial. Adravanti P, et al. · International Orthopaedics · 2014 · Randomized trial · Very low evidence · Effect reported. Patients using a PEMF device after knee replacement reported less pain and swelling at one month than controls, with some differences persisting at follow-up. Read on PubMed
• The effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound and pulsed electromagnetic fields bone growth stimulation in acute fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Hannemann PF, et al. · Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery · 2014 · Meta-analysis · Low evidence · No clear effect. Bone stimulation did not reduce nonunion rates in acute fractures, though some subgroups showed faster radiological or clinical union. Read on PubMed
• Electromagnetic fields for treating osteoarthritis. Li S, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2013 · Meta-analysis · Moderate evidence · Mixed results. Pooled trials found electromagnetic field therapy gave modest extra pain relief versus sham, with no significant difference in physical function or quality of life. Read on PubMed
• Therapeutic effects of whole-body devices applying pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF): a systematic literature review. Hug K, et al. · Bioelectromagnetics · 2012 · Systematic review · Very low evidence · No clear effect. Evidence for therapeutic effects of whole-body PEMF mats was judged insufficient; no acute adverse effects were reported, but long-term effects were unstudied. Read on PubMed
• Electromagnetic field stimulation for treating delayed union or non-union of long bone fractures in adults. Griffin XL, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2011 · Systematic review · Low evidence · No clear effect. The pooled effect on fracture union was not statistically significant; the authors judged the evidence inconclusive and insufficient to guide practice. Read on PubMed
• Impulse magnetic-field therapy for insomnia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Pelka RB, et al. · Advances in Therapy · 2001 · Randomized trial · Very low evidence · Effect reported. Participants using an impulse magnetic-field device reported greater improvement in sleep complaints than placebo users over four weeks; no adverse effects were reported. Read on PubMed

Reading the labels

Reading the labels

Three labels, one minute.

Type of study

A meta-analysis or systematic review pools many trials. A randomized trial tests one group against another. A review summarizes earlier work.

Strength of evidence

How much weight the study can carry, based on its size, design and quality. Moderate is stronger than low; very low means early or small.

Finding

What the study reported in plain terms: an effect, mixed results, no clear effect, or lab-only work. Regulatory records are official decisions, not studies.

PEMF explained

Terahertz explained