N/A
N=61
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy in Thumb CMC Arthritis
Thumb Osteoarthritis
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05315297 ↗Enrolled (actual)
61
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Jul 2025
Primary outcome: Primary: Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) — 3; 3 units on a scale — p=0.87
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- PEMF device (Device); Sham PEMF device (Device)
- Age
- Adult, Older Adult · 18+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- Stanford University
- Primary completion
- Aug 2024
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) |
3; 4 | 0.13 |
| SECONDARY Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) |
3; 4 | 0.13 |
| SECONDARY Patient-Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) |
35; 43 | 0.37 |
| SECONDARY Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) |
73; 65 | 0.19 |
| SECONDARY Patient-Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) |
35; 43 | 0.37 |
| SECONDARY Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) |
73; 65 | 0.19 |
Summary
Long-Term Objective: Determine if high-frequency PEMF therapy reduces pain in patients with thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint osteoarthritis (OA).
Study Design and Methods: This will be a randomized controlled pilot study with 60 subjects with CMC OA randomly divided in two groups. Thirty subjects will receive high-frequency PEMF therapy overlying the CMC joint overnight daily for four weeks. The other 30 subjects will receive a sham PEMF therapy device applied to the same joint overnight daily for four weeks. Pain and function questionnaires will be obtained for all patients at enrollment, four weeks, and six weeks.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- an existing diagnosis of CMC OA by a hand specialist based on clinically (tenderness to palpation at the CMC joint and/or positive CMC grind test) and/or radiographically identified CMC OA
- reported pain intensity during activities of daily living less than 7 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Exclusion Criteria
- pregnant
- unable to consent
- with current infection in hand or upper extremity
- have had prior fracture, significant hand injury, tenosynovitis, complex regional pain syndrome, and/or Dupuytren's disease affecting the thumb
- history of surgical or procedural intervention for CMC OA in the hand of study interest
- do not speak English
- have hand or wrist implants
- have heart or brain implants
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05315297). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.