MAGNETIC AND ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD
NEW FRONTIER IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE

Dr. Marko Markov

Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York and Magnetherapy Inc., North Palm Beach, USA

INVITED KEYNOTE LECTURE AT WORLD CONGRESS "HIGH TECHNOLOGY MEDICINE" Lugano, Switzerland, July 6-11, 1997

The process of cell/tissue repair and regeneration represents one of the most fundamental properties of the human organism. Numerous publications suggest that exogenous magnetic and electromagnetic fields can have profound effects on a large number of biological processes, most of which are of critical importance for diagnostics and therapy. Magnetic and electromagnetic fields are increasingly utilized for treatment of various musculoskeletal injuries and pathologies. The most effective clinical applications of these physical factors are related to bone unification as well as reduction of pain and edema. For musculoskeletal injuries and post-surgical, post traumatic and chronic wounds, reduction of pain and edema is a major therapeutical factor to accelerate relief of pain and stress, and thus to contribute to healing processes. This paper will review the clinical application of static magnetic fields, low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields, pulsed radiofrquency signals, and millimeter waves. Hundreds of thousands of patients have been treated worldwide with selected electromagnetic and magnetic fields having a success rate of approximately 80% with virtually no reported complications. Noninvasive electromagnetic fields are now a common part of the orthopedist's armamentarium for the care of fresh and delayed fractures. Very recent clinical data show significant acceleration of healing process when Tectonic® permanent magnets were applied in orthopedics and reconstructive surgery. Number of clinical studies, in vivo animal experiments and in vitro cellular and membrane research, all suggest that magnetic and electromagnetic field stimulation can accelerate the healing processes. They are also able to enhance such fundamental properties of the human organism as repair and regeneration. It is clear now that endogenous electromagnetic and magnetic interactions are associated with many basic physiological processes ranging from ion binding and molecular conformation in the cell membrane to the macroscopic mechanical properties of tissues. The effects of electromagnetic fields on biological systems which are in a state different than their normal physiological one represent the next frontier in electromagnetic biology and medicine.