How PEMF Therapy and Speech Therapy After Stroke

Did you know that PEMF therapy and speech therapy can work together after stroke?

Stroke rehabilitation has been a major challenge within the medical community and for naturopathic physicians.

The primary treatment plan following stroke often starts with the most basic re-learning for the patient.

The patient may have to re-learn how to swallow, how to talk, and how to communicate in general. It can be frustrating and tiring for the patient.

Today, this article is dedicated to sharing some interesting research on how PEMF therapy and speech therapy can work together after stroke.

A portion of the article will share a testimonial from “Gail”, a stroke patient who suffered from TIA, and struggled with speech after her insurance benefits ran out.

PEMF Therapy and Speech Therapy Work Well from Day One

You and your loved ones must decide as a family what is best for you during the course of your treatment and rehabilitation.

What you should know upfront is that while PEMF therapy is not a cure, it is certainly worth talking with your doctor about.

If they are familiar with this therapy, they may only know this as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation or rTMS. This well-known therapy is essentially the same as PEMF therapy.

The major differences are how it is being administered, and where it is being administered.

There is certainly no harm in a patient receiving this therapy in a doctor’s office under supervision.

This is encouraging that doctors are turning to this therapy for help.

Although rTMS is being used primarily for the treatment of depression and anxiety, many doctors are turning to this therapy for the following conditions:

• Traumatic brain injury
• PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)
• Stroke recovery

This is great news, and the research will continue for all of the above conditions.

As we discuss how PEMF therapy like rTMS can aid in stroke recovery, let’s take a look at how one woman was able to overcome her frustration with poor speech.

Her insurance covered a limited number of visits per year. One those ran out, her speech began to deteriorate.

This woman, we’ll call her “Gail”, shared her story with us as it pertains to her use of a PEMF therapy ring. How did PEMF therapy and speech therapy work together for Gail?

I didn’t know what PEMF therapy was until my daughter-in-law shared it with me. She had ordered the “therapy kit”, and was using all of it for chronic pain and muscle spasms. She had come across some research on using PEMF therapy for stroke patients while in the hospital. Once she shared the details on that research, I wanted to try it. I wanted to be able to tell people I love them.

Those words are powerful. Many stroke patients face this same frustration once they begin their recovery period and rehabilitation.

Her daughter-in-law filled in the details for us since she was doing the research for her.

The following study was what “Deborah” found online to help her mother-in-law Gail with her speech. The study was found on Dr. Pawluk’s website, in the section deemed, “Stroke Rehabilitation.”

In this case, the intensity was high and the frequency was low.

The key appeared to be gentle pulses to the brain to stimulate the brain cells. PEMF’s stimulate damaged brain cells to begin the healing process.

This fact alone is encouraging for anyone who is considering giving it a try.

The patients had experienced their strokes anywhere from one year to nine years prior to using this treatment.

The trail period was for 15 days, each patient receiving therapy for 20 minute sessions using a low-frequency setting, and 120 minutes of intensive OT or occupational therapy.

A  low-frequency of 1 Hz was applied to the side of the brain opposite where the stroke occurred.

In Gail’s case, her right arm and hand had severe paralysis, due to a left brain stroke.

The occupational therapy was intensive, with one-on-one exercise, also an environment of encouragement to help along in the process.

Out of 204 patients, there were 74 that improved consistently during a two week period.

In this case, it wasn’t until the delay in speech began that Gail was approached by her daughter-in-law about using PEMF therapy and speech together. Deborah had not learned that her therapy was over for speech, but it was timely.

Deborah ran a trial of her own, using the ring around her neck, set to a low-frequency of 1Hz to start out her mother-in-law, just as the study had suggested for 20 minutes.

After two days, she used the ring at 3 Hz, for 20 minutes.

Every few days, she increased the frequency by 2 Hz. Within two weeks, Gail’s words were connecting faster. Every few weeks, her speech continued to get a little better.

Additionally, her panic attacks subsided after two weeks of using this therapy. 

Many stroke patients know what they are saying, but getting the words out is their greatest frustration.

What if “PEMF therapy and speech therapy” would be used simultaneously?

It’s difficult to say if at this early in the rehabilitation process that it would have worked faster.

Is it possible that concrete results, proving the efficacy of this therapy could encourage doctors to use PEMF therapy from day one?

NOTE: PEMF therapy is not a cure, and it is NOT a miracle device, although many claim to be fully recovered from certain diseases and conditions as a result of using PEMF therapy. Anyone with metal in their body, or those using a pacemaker or other device for their heart, may not use a PEMF device. Please consult with your doctor first. 

Regular PEMF Therapy and Speech Therapy with Consistent Results

The key with PEMF therapy used in conjunction with any conventional therapy or holistic therapy is to use it consistently.

Using any therapy on a regular basis is good for you.

Please follow your doctor’s instructions. PEMF therapy is not intended to replace ANY treatment plan that your doctors has given you.

The idea is to use PEMF therapy in conjunction with your current treatment plan, and the goal is to see results.

The FDA has approved the use of PEMF therapy for many diseases and conditions over the course of several years.

Isn’t it worth trying? If you set out to conduct your own research, remain diligent.

It may well be worth asking your loved one’s doctor to try PEMF therapy and speech therapy together.