The effects and mechanisms of electromagnetic fields on bone remodeling: From clinical to laboratory

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are physical fields generated by electrically charged objects, and play a vital role in the growth and development of living organisms. Bone is a highly dynamic structure that undergoes a constant remodeling process. From 1962 to 1977, Bassett discovered the piezoelectric effect in bone tissue and found that EMFs accelerated osteogenesis, promoted tibial fracture healing in dogs, and had positive effects in clinical trials. Since then, EMFs have been increasingly studied in bone remodeling disorders as a non-invasive physical therapy. This review summarizes clinical trials and laboratory studies on EMF interventions in bone remodeling disorders over the past few decades, outlining the effects of EMFs on various bone cells and their underlying molecular mechanisms. In addition, we propose issues in current studies and give an outlook on the research and application of EMFs as a non-invasive physical therapy. The translational potential of this article: This article systematically reviews the research ranging from biological and physical mechanisms to medical applications of EMFs on bone remodeling and related diseases, identifies key challenges in future basic research, and proposes new strategies for developing novel medical equipment and advancing clinical applications in this field. These insights contribute to the advancement of non-invasive physical therapies in orthopedics.