About the PEMF Studies
The PEMF study database was created to provide a clear, bird’s eye view of the research landscape, rather than relying on the interpretation of any single authority or brand.
By compiling hundreds of studies into one searchable resource, it offers a broad snapshot of how PEMF has been investigated across different topics and applications.
Disclaimer
Please note that Health Mat Review assumes no copyright over the research studies in the database, we’ve simply searched as thoroughly as possible through Pubmed for PEMF studies which provide the most information & provided a new way to search these studies via properties like waveform, frequency, intensity & more. All copyright and IP belongs to the authors & their associates.
What the Database Includes
To create a standardized, bird’s-eye view of PEMF research, we focused on the parameters that could be consistently tabulated across studies.
Only certain aspects of research studies could be standardized and indeed allow for a macro-level analysis—such as frequency, intensity, and waveform, studies which included these were therefore made the focus when building the database.
Most studies included:
- Publication year
- Frequency, intensity, and waveform (when reported)
- Study subjects (human, animal, plant)
- Topical categories (keywords)
Additional fields we added for clarity:
- Broader topical categories (to group studies with varied or overly specific keywords into simplified themes)
- Outcome result (positive, neutral, or negative)
Note: The “positive” or “negative” result reflects whether the study’s specific outcome showed benefit or not. No study in the database concluded PEMF cures any disease.
Aspects of the Data
Now lets look at how we can visualize some of the data which the studies did give us, for analysis of the data please visit our PEMF signal analysis page.
PEMF Research Topics
The studies cover a wide range of applications, from pain and inflammation to bone healing and arthritis. To simplify the variety of study keywords, we grouped them into broader topical categories.
Frequency and Intensity Reporting
Most studies reported both frequency and intensity of the PEMF signal, though a smaller number included only frequency or only intensity.
Waveform details were less commonly specified, only 77 studies specified their waveform.
Study Subjects
The majority of studies examined PEMF in human subjects or human cell cultures, while a smaller proportion focused on animals, and one investigated a plant model.
As seen in the chart below the breakdown was as follows, 234 studied humans or human cells, 100 studied animals or animal cells, and of course the single plant study.
Publication Year Trends
PEMF research publications increased steadily from the early 2000s, peaking around 2016–2019. The database includes studies published through 2021, providing a broad snapshot of the field.
Using the PEMF Study Explorer
The Study Explorer lets you browse all studies in the database or filter by specific parameters. Simply adjust the dropdowns and checkboxes, then click Search to view results.
You can filter by:
- Frequency and intensity ranges
- Waveform type
- Study subject (human, animal, plant)
- Topical category or keyword (via text search)
For example, selecting Subject: Human will limit the results to human or human cell studies. You can then layer additional filters—such as category, frequency, or waveform—for a more precise search.
Notes on Scope of the Database
The PEMF study database is designed as a snapshot and bird’s eye view of the research landscape. It includes hundreds of peer-reviewed studies published up through 2021.
While newer studies continue to emerge, the collection remains a valuable overview of how PEMF has been studied across different subjects, settings, and parameters.
Based on our prior findings years ago with the smaller study set, the “Micro Study” of 56 research studies and the Macro study of the database it is unlikely that the academic community will reach any consensus on PEMF settings in the near to mid future beyond what we have discovered here.
See more findings from the database on our PEMF Signal Analysis page, or explore how the research answers common questions on our PEMF Therapy homepage.
If you’re considering a device, visit our PEMF Mats page for our top recommendations based on the results of the signal analysis.
Frequently asked Questions
The database includes peer-reviewed studies on pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy published through 2021. Studies were selected if they provided enough detail to be standardized by parameters such as frequency, intensity, or waveform, and cover subjects ranging from humans and animals to cell models and one plant study.
No. While most studies reported both frequency and intensity, only 77 specified waveform. Some studies did not include these details but were still included in the database if they provided relevant insights into PEMF applications.
Outcomes were recorded based on whether the study reported beneficial, inconclusive, or negative findings related to PEMF. A “positive” result indicates some observed benefit for the specific condition studied; “neutral” means no significant effect was found; and “negative” means the effect was contrary to expectations.
The PEMF Study Explorer allows you to filter studies by subject (human, animal, plant), frequency or intensity range, waveform, and topical category. You can also use the text search to locate studies by keyword, making it easy to focus on specific applications or search for a specific study title.
