Supplementary Material for: Effects of Long-Term Treatment with T-PEMF on Forearm Muscle Activation and Motor Function in Parkinson’s Disease

Bipolar pulsed electromagnetic stimulation applied to the brain (T-PEMF) is a non-pharmacological treatment which has been shown to stimulate nerve growth, attenuate nerve abnormalities, and improve microcirculation. We report on a 62-year-old, medically well-treated man with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. He was treated with T-PEMF, 30 min per day for three 8-week periods separated by two 1-week breaks. The disease made his handwriting impossible to read mainly due to small letters and lack of fluency. Forearm EMG measured during standardized conditions showed an involuntary spiky EMG pattern with regular burst activity (on his left side) at baseline. The intervention normalized the handwriting and forearm EMG. The UPDRS-motor score decreased from 25 to 17, and UPDRS-II-handwriting decreased from a pre-intervention value of 3 to 0 after the intervention. Finally, the patient reported improved fine motor function, less muscle stiffness, less muscle cramps and tingling, and less fatigue during the day in response to the T-PEMF treatment. The improved handwriting lasted for approximately 3 months after the treatment. Our results should be considered as preliminary, and large-scale, controlled studies are recommended to elucidate the therapeutic potential of long-term treatment with T-PEMF.

双极型经颅脉冲电磁刺激（T-PEMF）是一种非药物治疗手段，已被证实可促进神经生长、减轻神经异常并改善微循环。本研究报告1例经规范内科治疗的62岁特发性帕金森病男性患者。患者接受T-PEMF治疗：每日30分钟，共3个8周疗程，疗程间隔2个1周的休息期。受疾病影响，患者因字迹过小且书写流畅度不足，手写文字无法辨认。标准化采集条件下的前臂肌电图（Electromyography, EMG）结果显示，基线状态下患者左侧前臂存在伴规律性爆发活动的不自主性棘波肌电模式。经干预后，患者手写字迹与前臂肌电图均恢复正常。统一帕金森病评定量表（Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, UPDRS）运动评分从25分降至17分，其中UPDRS-II项（手写功能）评分从干预前的3分降至干预后的0分。此外，患者自述经T-PEMF治疗后，精细运动功能得到改善，肌肉僵硬、肌肉痉挛与刺痛感均有所减轻，日间疲劳感亦有所缓解。手写功能改善的效果持续了约3个月。本研究结果仅为初步结论，建议开展大规模对照研究以阐明T-PEMF长期治疗的临床治疗潜力。