[The effect of low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields on balance ability of patients with post-menopausal osteoporosis].

Objective: To assess the effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs)on balance ability of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Methods: 43 eligible patients were randomly divided into experimental (n = 24) and control (n = 19) groups. Patients in both groups received conventional drug therapy. Meanwhile, patients in the experimental group were given PEMFs once a day for 30 days.

Results: The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores increased and the timed upand to test (TUG) scores, sway index (forward-backward), rectangle area and sway path decreased in the patients in the experimental group (P < 0.05). In the patients in the control group, only changes in BBS scores and sway path were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The decrease of sway index (forward-backward) in the experimental group was greater than that of the control group (P < 0 01).

Conclusion: PEMFs can improve the balance ability of patients with post-menopausal osteoporosis.