Magnetic therapy fails to ease slipped disc pain in new study
NCT ID NCT07263737
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether adding pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy to standard physical therapy could reduce nerve pain and disability in people with a slipped disc in the lower back. Forty-six patients completed the trial, receiving either real or fake PEMF alongside usual care. While both groups improved, the PEMF group did not show any meaningful extra benefit for pain, flexibility, or quality of life.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy delivered via a device
- What this could lead to
- If it had worked, PEMF therapy could have offered a non-drug option to ease nerve pain and improve daily function for people with a slipped disc.
- What could go wrong
- This small, completed trial found that adding PEMF to standard physical therapy did not provide any extra benefit for pain, disability, or quality of life. The results are clear: no advantage over placebo.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital Physical Rehabilitation and Medicine Clinic
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
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