Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40097846›Full record

Trial reportWiener klinische Wochenschrift2025

Feasibility, acceptance and effects of pulsed magnetic field therapy in patients with post-COVID-19 fatigue syndrome : A randomized controlled pilot study.

Mohammad Keilani, Margarete Steiner, Julia Sternik, Jim Schmeckenbecher, Ralf Harun Zwick, Barbara Wagner, Richard Crevenna

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Wiener klinische Wochenschrift, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Mohammad KeilaniDepartment of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
Margarete SteinerDepartment of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
Julia SternikDepartment of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
Jim SchmeckenbecherDepartment of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
Ralf Harun ZwickTherme Wien Med, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Vienna, Austria.
Barbara WagnerDepartment of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
Richard CrevennaDepartment of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria. richard.crevenna@meduniwien.ac.at.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9177-0101

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe aim of this randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot study was to explore the feasibility, acceptance and effects of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) in patients with post-COVID-19 fatigue syndrome.

methodsA total of 20 patients were included in the study. They were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 10, male:female = 4 : 5, age = 45 ± 9 years) and a placebo group (n = 10, m:f = 4:6, age: 39 ± 23 years). A Papimi™ Delta professional electromagnetic field therapy device was used for treatment. Controls received a placebo PEMF. In total 10 PEMF sessions (30 min., 2× per week) were applied. Physical performance, health-related quality of life, fatigue, work ability, sleep, pain, anxiety and depression were assessed at baseline, posttreatment and at follow-up 5 weeks after treatment. Feasibility and acceptance were assessed posttreatment.

resultsThe intervention group showed a notable improvement in the 6 minutes walking test. The use of PEMF improved fatigue (measured with the Brief Fatigue Inventory and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory). Also, the depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Insomnia Severity Index, the Work Ability Index and most subscales of the Short Form (SF) 36 questionnaire showed improvement. From the placebo group three patients dropped out. There were no drop-outs in the intervention group. In the intervention group, PEMF was well-accepted and patients showed very good adherence.

conclusionThe results of this pilot study indicate that PEMF is feasible and well accepted. Furthermore, this study population showed improvements in physical and mental health in the intervention group. This study is a promising contribution to this growing research field and provides the required evidence for future efficacy studies on PEMF for post-COVID-19 patients.

Indexed as

COVID-19FatigueMagnetic Field TherapyAdultFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPilot ProjectsQuality of LifeSARS-CoV-2Single-Blind MethodTreatment OutcomeAcceptanceFatigueFeasibilityPost-COVID-19Pulsed magnetic field therapy

Identifiers

PMID40097846
PMCPMC12534222

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.