therapy
PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field)
Pulsed magnetic fields applied to the body for recovery, bone healing, and wellness — FDA-cleared for some specific medical uses.
PEMF stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy. PEMF devices emit low-frequency electromagnetic pulses that pass through the body. The mechanism appears to involve effects on cell membrane potentials and intracellular signaling.
PEMF has FDA-cleared clinical uses, most notably for bone fracture healing (devices used in orthopedic clinics for decades) and for certain types of depression. The consumer market has expanded well beyond these clinical use cases — full-body PEMF mats are sold for everything from sleep to cellular detox.
We rate consumer PEMF at 3 on the Woo-Woo Meter: mechanism is real, FDA-cleared use cases exist, but the broader consumer claims often outrun the data.