Extracorporeal Magnetic Transduction Therapy, or EMTT, is gaining considerable attention in the medical field as a cutting-edge solution for physical rehabilitation and pain management.
It uses a hand-held device to deliver powerful electromagnetic fields to the patient without directly contacting the skin.
This noninvasive approach can treat various conditions, from sports injuries and age-related degenerative conditions to chronic musculoskeletal pain. It can even be combined with other therapies to optimize patient outcomes.
This article examines how it works, the benefits of using it alone or combined with other modalities, and what conditions it can treat.
What is EMTT?
EMTT, or extracorporeal magnetic transduction therapy, is a non-invasive treatment methodology that uses electromagnetic fields to penetrate tissues, help reduce pain, and stimulate cellular regeneration in the targeted tissues.
It’s used to treat a wide range of conditions, including musculoskeletal disorders, bone fractures, sports injuries, and chronic pain.
How Does EMTT Work?
EMTT is administered using a handheld or freestanding device without direct contact with the patient’s body. It uses a high-speed generator to generate a magnetic field and uses electromagnetic transduction to penetrate tissues. It emits high-energy magnetic pulses at oscillating frequencies in the 100-300kHz range directed at a target area to penetrate deeply into the tissues.
The waves can penetrate up to 18cm below the skin's surface, allowing them to reach deep tendons, muscles, nerve tissues, and bones that are otherwise hard to reach. The pulses can also be adjusted depending on the tissues, depth, and desired results. The impulses are released nanoseconds apart, producing an electrophysical reaction in the tissues without increasing their temperature.
When administered professionally and effectively, it synchronizes with the body’s magnetic fields, triggering a regenerative response in degenerative joints and connective tissues, significantly reducing pain, and improving patient care.
The Benefits of EMTT
One primary benefit is that it is a non-invasive treatment that reduces the need for invasive treatments like surgery and sometimes unsafe treatments like drug therapies. There is no need for anesthesia and no downtime for recovery, allowing patients to resume their normal daily activities quickly. It is relatively painless, with only minimal discomfort during the procedure, and has no known side effects.
It stimulates healing and reduces pain and inflammation. It is a simple outpatient procedure that does not require patients to undress, be immobilized, or otherwise prepare for treatment. The sessions are short, taking between 5 and 20 minutes, and typically, only between 4 and 8 treatments are required to provide lasting relief for most conditions.
The clinic also benefits from its inexpensive operation, ease of maintenance, and procedures that physicians or their assistants can perform.
Which Conditions Is EMTT Used to Treat?
It is effective in treating a wide range of conditions. First, the patient should be diagnosed using different radiology modalities depending on their condition. Radiology is critical for accurate diagnostics, determining the location and severity of the condition before treatment methods can proceed.
Once diagnosed, it offers a non-invasive and potentially drug-free treatment method for various conditions. Here are some of the things it can be used for.
Age-Related Damage Like Osteoarthritis and Spinal Spondylarthrosis
Osteoarthritis is a debilitating joint condition caused by cartilage degeneration, osteophyte formation, and stiffening of the joints caused by an imbalance between the breakdown and synthesis of chondrocytes that regulate turnover in the extracellular matrix. Since EMTT is a regenerative treatment, it is highly effective in treating degenerative conditions.
It has been shown to both prevent the development of osteoarthritis and halt its progression. Other degenerative conditions, like spinal spondylarthrosis, degenerative disc disease, and rheumatoid arthritis, also respond well to the treatment.
Persistent and Acute Pain
EMTT is also effective in treating persistent pain in the neck, back, heels, nerve roots, and other chronic pain areas. It also works well with acute inflammatory pain caused by trauma, sports, or exercise by promoting healing, which helps relieve inflammation.
Chronically Inflamed Joints and Tendons
The higher oscillation frequency and magnetic field strength enhance the body's natural healing processes, reducing inflammation and providing significant pain relief. It works well in chronically inflamed joints and tendons without the need for invasive surgery or potentially unsafe use of corticosteroids.
Bone Stress Fractures and Non-Unions
EMTT offers a higher oscillation frequency and magnetic field strength than other traditional therapies. It shows promise in healing bone stress fractures and non-union recovery through enhanced collagen synthesis and mineralization. It offers significant pain reduction for patients while promoting bone tissue healing.
Post Surgery to Speed Healing
When patients require surgery, EMTT can still be used on them afterward. Since it increases blood flow, stimulates healing, and reduces pain, it can significantly reduce recovery time after surgical procedures.
Sports Injuries
Overuse of muscles and tendons, as well as sports injuries, can be painful. This treatment method can stimulate collagen production and promote tissue regeneration, requiring little to no downtime and benefitting active patients.
The Advantages of EMTT Combined with Shock Wave Therapy
EMTT is often used with extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) to optimize patient outcomes. The two modalities work well together, enhancing the healing process.
EMTT enhances the effectiveness of ESWT by reducing inflammation to allow the shockwaves to penetrate better, improving joint ligaments, cartilage, and fluids, regenerating damaged cells, activating cellular metabolism, enhancing muscle-firing capabilities, and inducing healing at the cellular level for enhanced and immediate therapeutic results.
Here are a couple of examples of how these modalities combined have proven very effective.
Studies on using EMTT and shockwave therapy combined to treat rotator cuff injuries resulted in significant pain reduction and improved mobility compared to the group that only received shockwave therapy.
Sometimes, surgery is essential. Combining these methods with surgical procedures beforehand to help prepare the tissues being operated on for the procedure and after surgery can help accelerate post-surgical healing. It enhances lymphatic blood flow and helps reduce swelling, improving recovery times and reducing pain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EMTT Therapy Effective?
Yes, it has been proven highly effective in treating many chronic pain and degenerative conditions, including osteoarthritis, bone stress fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal spondylarthrosis, sports injuries, and more.
Final Thoughts
EMTT has transformed medical rehabilitation, offering a non-invasive way to treat pain and promote healing for musculoskeletal injuries and degenerative conditions. With its ability to reach deep tissues and stimulate regeneration, it is a safe and effective option for those looking to reduce pain without relying on invasive surgery or extensive drug therapies.
As a standalone or complementary treatment with shockwave therapy, it can help accelerate recovery times and improve patient quality of life. If you are ready to offer cutting-edge treatment options to your patients, contact Maven Imaging for Shockwave Therapy equipment.
