HOW CAN PULSED MAGNETIC FIELD THERAPY ASSIST IN THE HEALING OF BONES AND LIGAMENTS?
by Dr. D. C. Laycock Ph.D. (Med. Eng.); MBES; MIPEM*; B.Ed. (Hons)(Phys. Sciences); CGLI (Ind. Electronics); Consultant Clinical Engineer, Westville Associates and Consultants (UK). Bone is essentially calcium structure which contains trace elements. One particular element recently identified is Alpha Quartz. This is the same type of material which is used in computers and digital or electronic watches. When this material is compressed, it develops a voltage across its two compressive faces, a phenomenon known as the piezo-electric effect. The old crystal pickups on record players used this effect to generate electrical sound signals. Gas appliances and some cigar lighters also utilise the same effect to generate a spark for ignition. In bone, areas of stress generate small electric charges which are greater than those of less stressed areas, so that polarised bone-laying cells (osteoblasts) are believed to be attracted to these areas and begin to build up extra bone material to counte
