What is EMTT?

EMTT — Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Therapy

EMTT is a non-invasive, painless electromagnetic therapy that uses high-frequency pulsed magnetic fields to support healing in deep tendon, cartilage, ligament, and bone. At CSRI it is delivered with the STORZ Medical MAGNETOLITH device, usually in 15–20 minute sessions, typically 4–8 sessions, and is frequently combined with shockwave therapy: shockwave addresses local tissue pathology, while EMTT supports the broader cellular healing environment.

  • Device: MAGNETOLITH, STORZ Medical, Switzerland
  • Oscillation frequency: 100–300 kHz — far above standard PEMF, which operates in the hertz range
  • Field strength: up to 80 mT — over 1,000 times Earth's magnetic field
  • Penetration: up to 18 cm, reaching bone, cartilage, and deep tendon
  • Session: 15–20 minutes, no heat, no vibration, no skin contact required in most setups, no radiation or electrical current through the body
  • Proposed cellular effects: improved ion exchange across cell membranes, support for mitochondrial energy production, reduced chronic inflammatory signaling, and upregulation of bone-forming genes

How EMTT compares

EMTT vs. standard PEMF, and EMTT vs. shockwave

EMTT vs. standard PEMF

  • Standard PEMF: low frequency (hertz range), shallow penetration, longer sessions, limited direct cellular effect at depth.
  • EMTT / MAGNETOLITH: 100–300 kHz oscillation, up to 80 mT, up to 18 cm penetration, 15–20 minute sessions, direct cellular effect at deep tissue structures.
  • Consumer magnets: static, negligible field strength — not comparable.

EMTT vs. shockwave at CSRI

  • Shockwave (acoustic): addresses local tissue pathology, focused or radial pressure waves.
  • EMTT (electromagnetic): supports the broader cellular healing environment.
  • At CSRI they are frequently combined. One plan, two mechanisms.

Top Conditions Treated with EMTT

Conditions where EMTT is used at CSRI

  • Chronic Low Back Pain and Spinal Disorders: Back pain, intervertebral disc issues, bulging or herniated discs, and lumbar spondyloarthrosis — frequently appearing in clinical trials demonstrating reductions in pain and functional recovery.
  • Rotator Cuff Disorders and Tendinopathies: Rotator cuff enthesopathy, shoulder impingement, and chronic tendinopathies such as Achilles tendinopathy and lateral epicondylitis / tennis elbow — major targets backed by randomized and in vitro studies.
  • Osteoarthritis and Degenerative Joint Disease: Knee osteoarthritis, general joint pain, and cartilage- or bone-related joint wear — common indications for pain management and mobility improvement.
  • Bone Fractures and Delayed Healing: Preclinical and clinical literature highlight EMTT for stimulating bone mineralization, fracture consolidation, and managing delayed-union or stress fractures.
  • Sports Injuries and Overuse Conditions: Acute and chronic sports inflammation, muscle/tendon strains, ankle sprains, and inflammatory joint conditions like osteitis pubis — widely referenced in clinical applications.

Also from the handout: hip osteoarthritis, chronic musculoskeletal pain, non-union fractures, bone healing support, and post-surgical recovery.

Individual results may vary. EMTT is part of a comprehensive evaluation and individualized care plan at CSRI.

Supporting evidence, what to expect, and cautions

What the literature shows, and what a course of EMTT involves

Supporting evidence for EMTT

  • Hollander et al., Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 2025 (epub Nov 28, 2025; journal issue May 2026, DOI 10.1177/10538127251400083): double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial, 126 patients with more than 6 weeks of pain from knee osteoarthritis, rotator cuff enthesopathy, or lumbar spondyloarthrosis. Protocol: EMTT 80 mT, 10,000 pulses per session, once weekly for 8 weeks, vs. sham. At 6 weeks, EMTT had significantly higher physical function scores and lower pain scores than placebo; effects persisted at 12 weeks. Mental-component scores did not differ significantly. Mild discomfort and skin redness occurred more often with EMTT; no serious adverse events were reported in that trial summary.
  • Gerdesmeyer et al., Biomedicines, 2024: in vitro study in human osteoblasts. EMTT upregulated bone-formation regulators SP7 and RUNX2 and bone-related genes COL1A1, ALPL, and BGLAP by over sevenfold vs. control in early culture, with increased collagen synthesis and mineralization, and no loss of cell viability. This is laboratory evidence, not proof of the same magnitude of effect in a patient.
  • Andriolo et al., Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2024: systematic review of EMTT for musculoskeletal disorders.
  • Mancini et al., International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025: EMTT enhanced tenocyte regenerative potential, with senolytic-like effects and matrix remodeling in laboratory work.
  • Charles et al., Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, scoping review published online Mar 26, 2026: nine studies on EMTT for fracture healing — two in vitro, six clinical, one pilot — supporting EMTT as adjunctive and primary modality for bone healing.
  • Saxena et al., 2026 retrospective case series: return to running after combined ESWT and EMTT for bone stress injuries in athletes.
  • Klüter et al., 2018: EMTT combined with focused shockwave for non-calcific rotator cuff tendinopathy improved pain more than shockwave alone in that trial, but the independent contribution of EMTT could not be isolated because of the combined treatment.

What to expect

  • Some patients notice reduced pain within the first few sessions.
  • Tissue-level regeneration in cartilage, tendon, and bone continues developing for 4 to 12 weeks after the series ends, per the handout.
  • Individual results may vary. This is educational, not medical advice or a guarantee of outcomes.

Contraindications and cautions

  • Implanted electronic devices including pacemakers and cochlear implants: contraindication.
  • Metal implants near the treatment area: device-specific evaluation required.
  • Pregnancy and active cancer at the treatment site: contraindication.
  • A complete medical history is reviewed at evaluation. EMTT may support post-surgical healing and can often be applied without removing post-operative dressings, subject to Dr. Rudnick's evaluation of healing stage.

EMTT FAQ

Direct answers to common EMTT questions

Is EMTT the same as a magnet I can buy at a store? No. Consumer magnets are static and negligible in strength. MAGNETOLITH operates at up to 80 mT, pulsed at 100–300 kHz.

How is EMTT different from PEMF? Frequency, field strength, and depth: 100–300 kHz and up to 18 cm, vs. hertz-range PEMF with shallow penetration.

Will I feel anything? Most patients feel nothing at all — no heat, no vibration, no discomfort. In the Hollander trial, mild discomfort and skin redness were reported more often with EMTT than sham, so “generally painless, with minor transient effects possible” is the honest wording.

How many sessions? Typically 4–8 sessions, 15–20 minutes each, per the handout. The Hollander trial used 8 weekly sessions.

When will I see results? Some notice pain reduction in the first few sessions; tissue-level effects continue for 4–12 weeks after the series.

Can EMTT be used after surgery? Possibly, subject to evaluation and healing stage.

Is EMTT a cure on its own? No. At CSRI it is part of a comprehensive, individualized plan, often combined with shockwave and rehabilitation.

Individual results may vary. This is educational, not medical advice or a guarantee of outcomes. EMTT is part of a comprehensive evaluation and individualized care plan at CSRI.