Effectiveness of Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field and Pulsed Low-Level Laser Therapy in Acute Stroke Treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke is one of the most devastating neurologic conditions in the world. Despite all the efforts that have been made for effective treatment, the prevalence of this medical condition is still high. One of the new methods in the treatment of patients is the use of low power laser and pulsed magnetic fields. The previous studies investigated the effectiveness of these methods individually. However, the present study aimed to investigate their effectiveness in combination. Methods: We divided the patients into control (n=26) and experimental (n=26) groups. The primary variables included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). The experimental group received extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (EMF-ELF) treatment with 1 mT power and laser in rejection with a wavelength of 840 nm for 5 days and 45 min/d. Results: The variable measured during this study, in addition to comparing the results of the intervention between the control and experimental groups, showed a significant difference in all indicators before and after the intervention. The mean and standard deviations of the modified Rankin scale (mRS), functional status (Barthel’s index), and cognitive status (MMSE) (P<0.001) were signed between 2 groups. Conclusion: Laser and magnetic field combination can be effective in the treatment of stroke. Further studies are recommended to ensure a better comparison.

Keywords

• stroke
• low-level light therapy
• electromagnetic field
• nonablative laser treatments