This study investigated the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic energy (pulsed shortwave diathermy) in the treatment of pressure sores. Four different treatment protocols were compared. These comprised the electrostatic (E) field at pulse train frequencies of 20 and 110 pulses per second (pps) and the electromagnetic (H) field also at 20 and 110 pps. Twenty non-ambulatory male subjects (mean age 79.5 +/- 9.8 years) all with pressure sores in the trochanteric or sacral region were referred by their physicians for participation in the study. Subjects were randomly divided into 4 groups of five subjects, each group receiving one of the four treatment protocols, group 1; H field at 20 pps, group 2; E field at 20 pps, group 3; H field at 110 pps and group 4; E field at 110 pps. The same therapist was responsable for all treatment applications. An ABAB repeated measures experimental design was used, each phase lasting on calendar week. Multifactorial analysis of variance showed highly significant reductions in sore surface areas within each treatment group at the 4th (p < 0.007) and 5th (p < 0.001) evaluation (E4 and E5) compared with the initial evaluation (E1). No significant between group difference was observed. These results suggest that pulsed electomagnetic energy can be an effective means of treating pressure sores. Further testing with larger groups might isolate the most effective treatment protocol.

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