Potential use of magnetotherapy and magnetostimulation in combined treatment of venous leg ulcers: a preliminary study

Introduction:
In recent years, a dynamic development of physiotherapy methods has been observed.

Objective:
To compare the therapeutic efficacy of magnetotherapy vs. magnetostimulation in the treatment of venous leg ulcers.

Material and methods:
The study included 98 patients, 46 (46.93%) males and 52 (53.06%) females aged between 45 and 90 years with venous leg ulcers. Patients were assigned to two study groups and underwent a cycle of magnetotherapy (group 1) and magnetostimulation (group 2). In both groups, a total of 30 daily magnetic field application procedures were performed. Progress in wound healing was assessed by computerized planimetry, pain ailments were measured with the visual analogue scale (VAS).

Results:
The average value of the ulceration area in both groups was statistically significantly reduced (p < 0.001). The percentage change in the ulceration area in patients from group 1 turned out to be statistically significantly higher compared to patients from group 2. Pain ailments in the VAS scale in both groups were significantly reduced (p < 0.001), with the average value of pain intensity in group 1 not differing statistically significantly when compared to the average value of pain intensity in group 2, which was 2.58 ±1.1 points (p = 0.865).

Conclusions:
Magnetic fields used as a component treatment of venous leg ulcers caused a statistically significant reduction of the surface area of the treated ulcers. Magnetotherapy appears to be slightly more advantageous in this respect. Both methods reduced also pain ailments.