CompletedNot Applicable

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy in Thumb CMC Arthritis

United States61 participantsStarted 2023-06-20

Plain-language summary

Long-Term Objective: Determine if high-frequency PEMF therapy reduces pain in patients with thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint osteoarthritis (OA). Study Design and Methods: This will be a randomized controlled pilot study with 60 subjects with CMC OA randomly divided in two groups. Thirty subjects will receive high-frequency PEMF therapy overlying the CMC joint overnight daily for four weeks. The other 30 subjects will receive a sham PEMF therapy device applied to the same joint overnight daily for four weeks. Pain and function questionnaires will be obtained for all patients at enrollment, four weeks, and six weeks.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * an existing diagnosis of CMC OA by a hand specialist based on clinically (tenderness to palpation at the CMC joint and/or positive CMC grind test) and/or radiographically identified CMC OA * reported pain intensity during activities of daily living less than 7 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) Exclusion Criteria: * pregnant * unable to consent * with current infection in hand or upper extremity * have had prior fracture, significant hand injury, tenosynovitis, complex regional pain syndrome, and/or Dupuytren's disease affecting the thumb * history of surgical or procedural intervention for CMC OA in the hand of study interest * do not speak English * have hand or wrist implants * have heart or brain implants

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)

Timeframe: 4 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05315297

SponsorStanford University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-08-31

Results submitted2025-07-07

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Thumb Osteoarthritis trials