Weak electromagnetic fields attenuate tremor in multiple sclerosis. 1994

R Sandyk, and L C Dann
NeuroCommunication Research Laboratories, Danbury, CT 06811, USA.

It has been estimated that about 75% of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) have tremor which can be exceedingly disabling. The most common tremor observed in patients with MS is a cerebellar intention tremor ('kinetic tremor') although postural tremor ('static tremor') is also common and often extremely incapacitating. Currently there is no effective medical treatment for the tremor of MS which, in some severe cases, may be abolished by stereotactic thalamotomy. It was reported recently that extracranial application of brief AC pulsed electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in the picotesla (pT) range produced improvement in motor and cognitive functions in patients with MS. The present communication concerns three MS patients with a chronic progressive course of the disease (mean age: 39.3 +/- 8.3 years; mean duration of illness: 11.3 +/- 3.2 years) in whom brief external applications of pulsed EMFs of 7.5 pT intensity reduced intention and postural tremors resulting in significant functional improvement. The report suggests that these extremely low intensity EMFs are beneficial also in the treatment of tremors in MS and that this treatment may serve as an alternative method to stereotactic thalamotomy in the management of tremor in MS. The mechanisms by which EMFs attenuate the tremors of MS are complex and are thought to involve augmentation of GABA and serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission in the cerebellum and its outflow tracts.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009043 Motor Activity Body movements of a human or an animal as a behavioral phenomenon. Activities, Motor,Activity, Motor,Motor Activities
D009103 Multiple Sclerosis An autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. Pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. The usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, RELAPSING-REMITTING), but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE) also occur. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p903) MS (Multiple Sclerosis),Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating,Sclerosis, Disseminated,Disseminated Sclerosis,Sclerosis, Multiple
D004574 Electromagnetic Fields Fields representing the joint interplay of electric and magnetic forces. Electromagnetic Field,Field, Electromagnetic,Fields, Electromagnetic
D004599 Electric Stimulation Therapy Application of electric current in treatment without the generation of perceptible heat. It includes electric stimulation of nerves or muscles, passage of current into the body, or use of interrupted current of low intensity to raise the detection threshold of the skin to pain. Electrotherapy,Electrical Stimulation Therapy,Interferential Current Electrotherapy,Therapeutic Electric Stimulation,Therapeutic Electrical Stimulation,Therapy, Electric Stimulation,Electric Stimulation, Therapeutic,Electrical Stimulation, Therapeutic,Electrotherapy, Interferential Current,Stimulation Therapy, Electric,Stimulation Therapy, Electrical,Stimulation, Therapeutic Electric,Stimulation, Therapeutic Electrical,Therapy, Electrical Stimulation
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D014202 Tremor Cyclical movement of a body part that can represent either a physiologic process or a manifestation of disease. Intention or action tremor, a common manifestation of CEREBELLAR DISEASES, is aggravated by movement. In contrast, resting tremor is maximal when there is no attempt at voluntary movement, and occurs as a relatively frequent manifestation of PARKINSON DISEASE. Action Tremor,Intention Tremor,Resting Tremor,Coarse Tremor,Continuous Tremor,Darkness Tremor,Fine Tremor,Intermittent Tremor,Involuntary Quiver,Massive Tremor,Passive Tremor,Persistent Tremor,Pill Rolling Tremor,Rest Tremor,Saturnine Tremor,Senile Tremor,Static Tremor,Tremor, Limb,Tremor, Muscle,Tremor, Neonatal,Tremor, Nerve,Tremor, Perioral,Tremor, Semirhythmic,Action Tremors,Coarse Tremors,Continuous Tremors,Darkness Tremors,Fine Tremors,Intention Tremors,Intermittent Tremors,Involuntary Quivers,Limb Tremor,Limb Tremors,Massive Tremors,Muscle Tremor,Muscle Tremors,Neonatal Tremor,Neonatal Tremors,Nerve Tremor,Nerve Tremors,Passive Tremors,Perioral Tremor,Perioral Tremors,Persistent Tremors,Pill Rolling Tremors,Quiver, Involuntary,Rest Tremors,Resting Tremors,Saturnine Tremors,Semirhythmic Tremor,Semirhythmic Tremors,Senile Tremors,Static Tremors,Tremor, Action,Tremor, Coarse,Tremor, Continuous,Tremor, Darkness,Tremor, Fine,Tremor, Intention,Tremor, Intermittent,Tremor, Massive,Tremor, Passive,Tremor, Persistent,Tremor, Pill Rolling,Tremor, Rest,Tremor, Resting,Tremor, Saturnine,Tremor, Senile,Tremor, Static,Tremors

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