Investigation of the efficiency of pulsed electromagnetic field treatment and stretching exercise in experimental skeletal muscle injury model.

Abstract

Objective: Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) and stretching exercises are safe and noninvasive methods that could have a therapeutic effect on tissue healing. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of these methods in treatment of muscle injury (INJ).

Method: Rats were divided into 5 groups (Control, INJ, INJ + Exercise, INJ + PEMF, INJ + Exercise + PEMF). At the end of the experiment, genetic, histopathological, and immunohistochemical evaluations were made in the muscle tissue.

Results: Mononuclear cell infiltration, muscle degeneration, atrophy, and necrosis were found to be higher in the INJ group than in all groups (p < 0.001). On the 7th day, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) was found to be higher in the INJ group compared to both the control and the INJ + Exercise group (p < 0.05). On the 14th day, Vascular endothelial growth factor values were found to be higher in the injury group than the other groups except for the PEMF group (p < 0.05), and FGF values were higher in the injury group compared to all groups (p < 0.001). The expressions of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) on the 7th and 14th days showed a significant increase in the INJ group compared to the other groups (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: In this study, it has been shown that PEMF and stretching exercise is effective in the treatment of muscle injuries as they balance the inflammatory process in the muscle, have a positive effect on muscle development, accelerate healing, prevent fibrosis development by reducing TGF-β1 signaling, and inhibit inflammatory-induced eNOS activity.