Why treat with PEMF therapy?

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy uses electromagnetic currents to facilitate your body’s natural healing processes and restore cellular homeostasis. As a wellness practitioner, integrating PEMF therapy into your treatments is an easy way to amplify results. Whether you’re a chiropractor, acupuncturist, massage therapist, or anyone else who works in wellness; you like to help people. You’ve invested years of study and practice working to relieve clients of pain, help them to heal quickly, and move more freely—all of the same things PEMF has been clinically proven to help with. Not surprisingly, as more people learn about the health benefits, the demand for PEMF therapy sessions is climbing.

Integrating PEMF therapy into your treatments (or supplementing your treatments with PEMF) can help your clients to feel better, faster. Adding a safe, pain-free, and relaxing treatment option to your existing services is also a great way to create a point of difference for your business. 

Business-wise, investing in PEMF devices is a no-brainer when you crunch the numbers. Practitioners typically charge anywhere from $30 to $80 for a 30 minute session, and even more for longer sessions. The cost of electricity required to run the device is just a few cents per hour, and since the mat—and not you or your employees—is doing all of the work, the potential for profit is substantial. 

Using PEMF therapy with Chiropractic Treatments.

Chiropractors have found PEMF useful for treating everyone from elite athletes recovering from acute injuries, to the average person who just wants to feel less stiff, more energetic, or get relief from mild aches and pains. PEMF has been used with chiropractic treatments to:

• Improve range of motion
• Encourage circulation
• Speed up wound healing
• Reduce pain and swelling
• Repair soft tissue damage

All of these benefits mean that PEMF is great for assisting with post-surgical healing too. 

The Science Behind PEMF Therapy for Musculoskeletal Treatment.

PEMF devices work by amplifying your body’s natural healing mechanisms. As such, they are a safe, non-invasive way to help treat many common musculoskeletal issues. 

When it comes to bone health, PEMF devices have been FDA-approved for over 40 years for the healing of non-union fractures. Extensive studies have also been performed on PEMF use for regenerating bone tissue, and for healing following lumbar and cervical spinal surgery. Additionally, many clinical studies have shown PEMF to be effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears, and epicondylitis (tennis elbow). 

If you’re a chiropractor, you’re probably no stranger to using technology to maximize treatment benefits. You may already be using tech-based treatment modalities like electrical stimulation (E-stim), therapeutic ultrasound, and low-level laser treatments (cold therapy). PEMF is not so different from these widely used and accepted therapies; they just vary by energy source. E-stim uses electrical energy, ultrasound uses vibration energy, laser treatments use light energy, and PEMF uses electromagnetic energy. 

In addition to being a helpful tool for the treatment of musculoskeletal issues, PEMF stands out for its unique ability to promote bone cell regeneration. For older patients and those with osteoporosis, chiropractors can use PEMF devices in conjunction with soft tissue techniques in order to safely reduce inflammation and promote healing in patients with brittle bones.

Benefits of PEMF Therapy for Chiropractic Clients.

Whether a client is dealing with acute injury or chronic pain, most PEMF users notice some level of immediate relief following treatment. The use of a PEMF mat is non-invasive, pain-free, and relaxing. Since the electromagnetic wavelengths can penetrate through clothing, clients do not need to disrobe for the treatment. 

Further, in a climate of social-distancing and mask-wearing, PEMF treatment sessions offer an option for clients who may be wanting to limit their social contact for health reasons. Some chiropractors even have PEMF mats available to rent out to clients for home use, which can help accelerate their healing between chiropractic treatments. 

Acupuncture and PEMF Therapy: Two Ways to Promote Energy Flow.

Acupuncture is based on assisting the flow of energy or ‘qi’ through the 12 channels (or meridians) of the body. Acupuncture channels are electromagnetic by nature, and it’s believed that when qi is stagnant, this energy blockage can cause illness, pain, and suffering. 

There are 361 classical acupuncture points located along the channels. Traditional needling of these points initiates neuronal, biophysical, and biochemical reactions that help with healing. In addition to needling, other ways that acupuncture points are often stimulated include moxibustion, cupping, acupressure, massage, Gua Sha (scraping), and the application of magnets; often in the form of magnetic acupressure seeds.   

PEMF therapy simply provides a modern technological twist on ancient healing methods. Since the electromagnetic energy travels deep into the body through several layers of tissue, it can penetrate and stimulate the acupuncture points in a gentle, non-invasive way. Each acupoint stimulation technique provides its own unique benefits, but all are aimed at restoring energy flow through the body. As with the traditional methods, PEMF stimulation of the acupuncture channels generates energy flow to increase circulation, improve mobility, decrease pain, and encourage relaxation. 

Using PEMF Therapy with Acupuncture Treatment.

Many acupuncturists incorporate PEMF therapy into their treatments because of the improved outcomes they see with patients. It’s as easy as including PEMF mats on their therapy beds. Once the patient’s acupuncture points have been needled, the needles typically stay in place for 10 to 20 minutes. At this point, the patient may feel a dull ache, warmth, tingling, or the contraction and relaxation of muscles as the body’s energy begins to flow through the channels. 

An excellent time to use the PEMF mat is during this post-needling rest period. Once the needles have been removed, the patient can continue to lay on the PEMF mat for further relaxation. Using a combination PEMF and far infrared mat is another great way to supercharge the flow of energy through the body, while encouraging deep relaxation of the muscles and connective tissues through thermal therapy. 

Benefits for Acupuncture Patients

Acupuncture needling targets a very specific trigger point to assist in the relief of pain and illness. While PEMF is less specific, it can be used over larger areas of a channel (covering several acupoints), or to energize and heal the entire body; improving the flow of energy through all 12 channels. 

For clients who like the idea of acupuncture, but may feel a bit squeamish about needles, PEMF may be a great alternative. Previous research has shown that Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS) is an effective alternative to acupuncture needling. In a recent  study on alternatives to acupuncture needling, it was found that PEMF devices were even more effective than TEAS as a non-invasive treatment method. 

Using PEMF Therapy with Massage Therapy.

PEMF can be incorporated into many different types of massage due to its wide range of healing functions:

Sports Massage 

PEMF can be added to assist with increasing range of motion, decreasing muscle tension, aiding in post-workout recovery, shortening healing times from injury, and restoring energy.

Reiki 

Reiki practitioners place their hands on or above the patient’s body to guide the flow of energy, creating a sensation of warmth and relaxation. People who receive Reiki massage generally report improved mood, better quality sleep, and pain relief. The energizing and healing properties of PEMF make the perfect pairing for Reiki massage, and can enhance both the physical and mental health benefits. 

Shiatsu

Shiatsu massage is a form of acupressure, where the practitioner applies pressure to acupoints that lie along the energetic meridians of the body. By applying pressure, they release the blockages that can lead to illness and injury. Incorporating PEMF into shiatsu treatments works similarly how it would when integrated with acupuncture. A PEMF mat can be used to enhance the effects of the treatment, by improving the flow of energy across the whole body. 

Aromatherapy

If a massage patient is sensitive to touch for whatever reason (sunburn, nerve conditions, certain autoimmune diseases) then aromatherapy in combination with PEMF can be an excellent option to ease stress and provide relaxation. Aromas can trigger positive emotional and physical responses, and incorporating PEMF can enhance both the physical and psychological benefits. 

With the exception of pre-natal massage (there is insufficient research on PEMF use in pregnancy at this time), PEMF can be incorporated into just about any massage modality you may specialize in to maximize the feel-good benefits.  

Helping your Massage Business Stand Out.

There are two important reasons why incorporating PEMF into your massage business is good for your business and for clients:

1) Results! Everything your clients come to see you for—relaxation, healing, pain relief, and so on—can all be reinforced by adding in the healing properties of PEMF therapy. Healthier, happier clients mean more returning clients, more word-of-mouth referrals, better online reviews… the list goes on. Your clients will feel better, and as a result, your business will thrive. 

2) More options. Variety is the spice of life, and if your clients are deciding between your massage business and the one up the street, offering PEMF treatments is a fantastic way to rise above the competition. With a set-up that is as simple as a PEMF mat on a massage table, you can offer PEMF only sessions, PEMF and massage combo sessions, or deluxe spa packages with whatever your business may offer (massage, plus a facial, plus PEMF). Clients get a relaxing and unique alternative to the same old treatments, and you have a low-maintenance source of new revenue. 

Adding PEMF Therapy to Your Healing Toolbox.

Adding PEMF to your business offerings can be as simple as purchasing a PEMF mat and placing it on a treatment table, or even on the floor if your clients prefer! 

While PEMF certification is not required in most places (the mats are safe and easy to operate), there are certification courses available for practitioners looking to add to their business’ credibility and highlight their commitment to safe-practices and education regarding PEMF use. 

To help your clients get the most out of a session with you, no matter what kind of wellness practitioner you are, PEMF can increase the mental and physical healing effects of your treatments. With a variety of ways to generate income through PEMF sessions, package sessions, or even PEMF rental; PEMF mats are a business investment worth seriously considering.