Effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Stimulation on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness: Randomised Sham-Controlled Trial
Sports Health A Multidisciplinary Approach · 26 Oct 2026
† Impact is the editorial-priority score. All scores are out of 100. Clinical is a stored clinical-importance score from the earlier method; it has not been recalculated.
Why it matters
DOMS is a near-universal complaint after unaccustomed eccentric exercise with no proven treatment, so a sham-controlled test of a passive modality like PEMF is relevant for sports medicine and rehabilitation counselling.
The evidence
This single-centre randomised trial gave 52 sedentary college students (mostly women) either real or sham pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy to the quadriceps for 3 days after a drop-jump protocol that caused delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Between 24 and 72 hours, the muscle-damage markers fell more in the PEMF group: creatine kinase dropped about 34 U/L versus about 10 U/L with sham, and myoglobin dropped about 46 versus 10 units (both P = 0.001). Hop distance and pressure pain thresholds also recovered better, but pain at rest did not differ between groups.
A coherent primary effect estimate is unavailable. Clinical relevance does not estimate treatment benefit.
Why this rigour score?
Sham-controlled RCTDesign starting point: 68.6
Raised the score
- Sham / placebo control+11.9
- Adequately powered+6
Lowered the score
- A positive result from a single centre−4.3
- A positive result from only 52 patients−3.4
Methods at a glance
Recorded assessment- Outcome assessors blindedMet
- Allocation concealedMet
- Random sequence generatedMet
- Intention-to-treat analysisNot reported
- Adequate statistical powerMet
- Prospective registrationMet
Not reported does not mean not done. Checks have different weights; this is not a count of boxes ticked.
See the full score breakdown
- Study design starting point
- 68.6
- Concealed allocation
- +5.1
- Random sequence generation
- +2.5
- Sham-controlled
- +6.8
- Placebo or sham control
- +5.1
- Blinded outcome assessment
- +3.4
- 0% loss to follow-up
- +1.7
- Adequately powered
- +6
- Prospectively registered
- +5.1
- A positive result from only 52 patients
- −3.4
- A positive result from a single centre
- −4.3
- Final rigour score rounded
- 97 / 100
Study design sets the starting point and a ceiling of 100. Recorded methods then adjust the score. Points are shown to one decimal place; the final score uses unrounded values.
Checklist from the stored appraisal. “Not met” describes the recorded criterion; it does not always produce a deduction. This overview supports reading the full study.
For journal club
1.If PEMF lowers creatine kinase and myoglobin but does not change resting pain, how would you counsel an athlete asking whether to use it for post-exercise soreness?
2.Would you expect these results in trained athletes, older adults, or patients recovering from muscle injury, and how would that affect when you would offer PEMF?
Original publication title
Effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Stimulation on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness: Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial