Keith R. Holden, M.D.
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
www.Dr-Holden.com
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What is PEMF therapy.
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PEMF as a diagnostic & safe therapeutic tool.
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Brief history of PEMF therapy.
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Conditions that respond to PEMF in RDBPC trials.
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Conditions cleared for PEMF therapy by the FDA.
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Future of PEMF therapy:
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Diabetes.
Cardiovascular disease.
Antimicrobial therapy.
Antitumor therapy.
 How PEMF promotes bone health & how to monitor
response to therapy.
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Time-varying EM fields → microcurrents.
Microcurrents (information) create specific
biological responses.
Specific biological responses dependent on
field amplitude, frequency, wave form and
condition.
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Frequency range 0.1 – 32,000 Hz
Induced current up to 400 micro Amps
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Handheld applicator 55mT
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Neck applicator 40mT
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Matrix applicator 10mT
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Wide Field applicator 0.9mT (dia. 50cm)
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Body contains multiple electromagnetic fields.
Each organ & tissue has a unique
electromagnetic signature.
CT & MRI scans take advantage of these
unique EM signatures to create tissue maps.
◦ 1954 Japanese scientists discovered
piezoelectric properties of bone.
◦ Further research showed damaged bone
responds therapeutically to PEMF.
◦ 1995 Researchers showed that each soft
tissue responds favorably to specific PEMF.
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Chronic lower back pain.
Fibromyalgia.
Cervical and knee osteoarthritis.
Lateral epicondylitis.
Recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery.
Persistent rotator cuff tendinitis.
Multiple Sclerosis.
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Non-union fractures.
Failed joint fusion following arthrodesis.
Failed spinal fusion.
Congenital pseudoarthrosis.
Postoperative edema & pain in superficial soft
tissue.
Refractory Major Depression (rTMS).
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Refractory Major Depression (FDA
approved).
Schizophrenia.
PTSD.
OCD.
Alzheimer’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease.
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Streptozotocin induced diabetic neuropathy.
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PEMF tx rats showed decreased BG levels.
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Suggests PEMF can ameliorate painful sxs of
DM by partially preventing hyperglycemia.
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Hyperlipidemia in rats tx with PEMF 8 weeks.
Lowered blood viscosity.
TC decreased 40.52%.
TG decreased 52.4%.
HDL increased 66.67%.
Fatty material deposition on lining of thoracic
aorta significantly lighter in PEMF group.
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Transient focal cerebral ischemia induced in
rats.
PEMF (75 Hz) initiated 10 min after onset.
PEMF continued throughout reperfusion for a
total of 6 hours.
PEMF attenuated cortical ischemic edema on
MRI by 65%.
Histologic exam showed PEFM reduced
ischemic neuronal damage by 69%.
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Staph aureus in fluid medium.
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Treated with low-frequency PEMF +AC.
 Sig. growth reduction of CFU/ml by 36%.
 Application of low-frequency PEMF could
theoretically be useful in osteomyelitis.
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Applied PEMF 50 Hz to H. pylori biofilms.
PEMF sig ↓ cell viability during early biofilm
formation but not mature biofilm.
Sig ↓ biofilm cell mass in both biofilms.
PEMF induces phenotypic changes of
adhering bacteria & dec cell adhesion.
PEMF creates unbalanced population thus
reducing H. pylori’s ability to protect itself.
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PEMF in melanoma model mice sig ↓ tumor
weight vs controls.
TNF-alpha was sig ↑ in PEMF group.
PEMF slowed growth of T-cell lymphoma &
prolonged survival.
Synergizing antitumor effect with PEMF
+suboptimal doxorubicin dose.
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Increases bone mineral density.
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Increases growth of osteoblasts.
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Increases TGF-beta 1 (growth factor).
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Decreases IL-6 (inflammatory cytokine).
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Decreases PGE-2 (prostaglandin).
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Lowers urinary deoxypyridinoline (uDPD).
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DPD cross-links Type I collagen.
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uDPD measure of bone resorption.
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↑ levels indicate active bone loss.
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Easy to measure spot AM urine.
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Recheck within 30-90 days.
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Covered by Medicare.
66 y.o ♀ with osteoporosis (T-score -3.1)
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Baseline uDPD 9.7 nMCr (NL <6.5)
Weekly 1 hour PEMF sessions x 2 months
At 2 months, uDPD 4.5 (53.61% drop!)
Maintenance monthly 1 hour PEMF sessions
 At 6 months, uDPD 5.5
 At 9 months, uDPD 4.5
63 y.o. ♀ osteoporosis (T-score LS -4.1)
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Baseline uDPD 9.7 nMCr (NL < 6.5)
Monthly 1 hour PEMF sessions x 4 months
Weekly 1 hour PEMF sessions x 6 months
2-3 x weekly PEMF sessions x 3 weeks
At 6 months, uDPD 5.0 (48.5% drop!)
62 y.o. ♀ with osteoporosis (T-score -2.6)
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Baseline uDPD 8.9 nMCr (NL < 6.5)
Eight 30 minute PEMF session over 3 weeks
At 3 weeks, uDPD 6.6 (25.84% drop!)
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Biological systems ⇔ dynamic EM entity.
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PEMF beneficial effects from bone to brain.
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PEMF provides intelligent information.
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Before any physiologic repair response, there
must be an exchange of energy (information).
PEMF promotes this exchange in ailing tissue.
Keith R. Holden, M.D.
822 A1A North, Suite 310
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
(904) 473-4954
krholden@gmail.com
www.Dr-Holden.com