Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMFS) in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type i (CRPS-I) of the Foot (PeCFoA)

NCT05922618 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: PeCFoA
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 28
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The investigators hypothesize that the association of I-ONE® therapy with standard rehabilitation treatment can optimize the clinical and functional recovery of patients with pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) (I-ONE® therapy) of the foot or ankle.

Conditions

Complex Regional Pain Syndromes; Ankle Disease; Foot Diseases; Pain, Joint

Keywords

Complex Regional Pain Syndromes; foot; ankle

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (15)

• Number of participants with allodynia

  • Clinical assessment of allodynia (tested as pain by lightly stroking with a small brush (end of a cotton swab: dichotomic present/absent response)

  Change from baseline at 3 months

• Number of participants with allodynia

  • Clinical assessment of allodynia (tested as pain by lightly stroking with a small brush (end of a cotton swab: dichotomic present/absent response)

  Change from baseline at 6 months

• Number of participants with allodynia

  • Clinical assessment of allodynia (tested as pain by lightly stroking with a small brush (end of a cotton swab: dichotomic present/absent response)

  Change from baseline at 12 months

• Number of participants with hyperalgesia

  Clinical evaluation of hyperalgesia (defined as a pin prick-evoked stimulus perceived as something more painful or longer than the duration of the stimulus in the affected limb compared to the contralateral limb: dichotomic present/absent response)

  Change from baseline at 3 months

• Number of participants with hyperalgesia

  Clinical evaluation of hyperalgesia (defined as a pin prick-evoked stimulus perceived as something more painful or longer than the duration of the stimulus in the affected limb compared to the contralateral limb: dichotomic present/absent response)

  Change from baseline at 12 months

• Rate of edema

  • Local edema (score 0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe, at the level of the ankle and midfoot, by direct comparison with the healthy contralateral limb)

  Change from baseline at 3 months

• Rate of edema

  • Local edema (score 0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe, at the level of the ankle and midfoot, by direct comparison with the healthy contralateral limb)

  Change from baseline at 6 months

• Rate of edema

  • Local edema (score 0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe, at the level of the ankle and midfoot, by direct comparison with the healthy contralateral limb)

  Change from baseline at 12 months

• Pain at movement

  Pain evoked by passive movement (ankle and toe joints for foot involvement) was rated as 0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe, by direct comparison with the healthy contralateral limb)

  Change from baseline at 3 months

• Pain at movement

  Pain evoked by passive movement (ankle and toe joints for foot involvement) was rated as 0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe, by direct comparison with the healthy contralateral limb)

  Change from baseline at 6 months

• Pain at movement

  Pain evoked by passive movement (ankle and toe joints for foot involvement) was rated as 0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe, by direct comparison with the healthy contralateral limb)

  Change from baseline at 12 months

• Pain intensity

  Visual Analogue Scale (VAS): the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measures pain intensity. The VAS consists of a 10cm line, with two end points representing 0 ('no pain') and 10 ('pain as bad as it could possibly be').

  Change from baseline at 3 months

• Pain intensity

  Visual Analogue Scale (VAS): the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measures pain intensity. The VAS consists of a 10cm line, with two end points representing 0 ('no pain') and 10 ('pain as bad as it could possibly be').

  Change from baseline at 6 months

• Pain intensity

  Visual Analogue Scale (VAS): the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measures pain intensity. The VAS consists of a 10cm line, with two end points representing 0 ('no pain') and 10 ('pain as bad as it could possibly be').

  Change from baseline at 12 months

• Pain intensity

  Visual Analogue Scale (VAS): the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measures pain intensity. The VAS consists of a 10cm line, with two end points representing 0 ('no pain') and 10 ('pain as bad as it could possibly be').

  at 12 months

Secondary Outcomes (12)

• Evaluate a better recovery of joint functionality

  Change from baseline at 3 months

• Evaluate a better recovery of joint functionality

  Change from baseline at 6 months

• Evaluate a better recovery of joint functionality

  Change from baseline at 12 months

• Self-reporting measure of pain

  Change from baseline at 3 months

• Self-reporting measure of pain

  Change from baseline at 6 months

Study Arms (2)

I-ONE group

EXPERIMENTAL

The group will undergo home biophysical treatment with I-ONE® therapy (experimental group) for 4 hours/day for 60 days. Patients will follow standard rehabilitation treatment: patients will perform active and active-assisted range of motion (ROM) recovery exercises and stretching exercises for 30 minutes per day, for 6 weeks.

Device: I-One

Exercise group

NO INTERVENTION

The group, not subjected to biophysical therapy, will be controls. Patients will follow standard rehabilitation treatment: patients will perform active and active-assisted ROM recovery exercises and stretching exercises for 30 minutes per day, for 6 weeks.

Interventions

I-One DEVICE

I-ONE® is a medical device certified by the Ministry of Health as a Medical Device (risk class II A) for the treatment of inflammatory and degenerative tissue pathologies. The device consists of a signal generator and an applicator, called a solenoid. The solenoid will be placed on the joint, not necessarily in direct contact with the skin. The device works with a rechargeable battery and is equipped with an hour counter to assess patient compliance. Treatment with I-ONE® therapy will start within 3-7 days of recruitment, will last 6 hours a day and will be maintained for 60 days. The treatment will be carried out at home and the device will be delivered directly to the patient's home by courier.

Also known as: I-One, IGEA, Italy

I-ONE group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosis of type I CRPS according to the Budapest criteria (table 1)
• Type I CRPS involving the ankle or foot
• Onset of CRPS type I up to a maximum of 3 years after the symptomatic event
• Pain on visual analog scale (VAS) scale quantified as intensity at least ≥ 5 at recruitment
• Pharmacological treatment with first infusion cycle of neridronate

You may not qualify if:

• Neurological pathologies (stroke, degenerative, traumatic pathologies)
• Local neurological impairment (type II CRPS), confirmed by a conduction test or similar
• Cardiac pacemaker, treatment site malignancy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico di Bari: lead

Study Sites (1)

Angela Notarnicola

Bari, 70124, Italy

RECRUITING

Related Publications (29)

• Adravanti P, Nicoletti S, Setti S, Ampollini A, de Girolamo L. Effect of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty: a randomised controlled trial. Int Orthop. 2014 Feb;38(2):397-403. doi: 10.1007/s00264-013-2216-7. Epub 2013 Dec 20.

  PMID: 24352823 BACKGROUND

• Benazzo F, Cadossi M, Cavani F, Fini M, Giavaresi G, Setti S, Cadossi R, Giardino R. Cartilage repair with osteochondral autografts in sheep: effect of biophysical stimulation with pulsed electromagnetic fields. J Orthop Res. 2008 May;26(5):631-42. doi: 10.1002/jor.20530.

  PMID: 18176941 BACKGROUND

• Benazzo F, Zanon G, Pederzini L, Modonesi F, Cardile C, Falez F, Ciolli L, La Cava F, Giannini S, Buda R, Setti S, Caruso G, Massari L. Effects of biophysical stimulation in patients undergoing arthroscopic reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament: prospective, randomized and double blind study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2008 Jun;16(6):595-601. doi: 10.1007/s00167-008-0519-9. Epub 2008 Apr 2.

  PMID: 18385980 BACKGROUND

• Bigoni M, Sacerdote P, Turati M, Franchi S, Gandolla M, Gaddi D, Moretti S, Munegato D, Augusti CA, Bresciani E, Omeljaniuk RJ, Locatelli V, Torsello A. Acute and late changes in intraarticular cytokine levels following anterior cruciate ligament injury. J Orthop Res. 2013 Feb;31(2):315-21. doi: 10.1002/jor.22208. Epub 2012 Aug 6.

  PMID: 22886741 BACKGROUND

• de Girolamo L, Stanco D, Galliera E, Vigano M, Colombini A, Setti S, Vianello E, Corsi Romanelli MM, Sansone V. Low frequency pulsed electromagnetic field affects proliferation, tissue-specific gene expression, and cytokines release of human tendon cells. Cell Biochem Biophys. 2013 Jul;66(3):697-708. doi: 10.1007/s12013-013-9514-y.

  PMID: 23345006 BACKGROUND

• de Girolamo L, Vigano M, Galliera E, Stanco D, Setti S, Marazzi MG, Thiebat G, Corsi Romanelli MM, Sansone V. In vitro functional response of human tendon cells to different dosages of low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2015 Nov;23(11):3443-53. doi: 10.1007/s00167-014-3143-x. Epub 2014 Jun 24.

  PMID: 24957914 BACKGROUND

• De Mattei M, Pasello M, Pellati A, Stabellini G, Massari L, Gemmati D, Caruso A. Effects of electromagnetic fields on proteoglycan metabolism of bovine articular cartilage explants. Connect Tissue Res. 2003;44(3-4):154-9.

  PMID: 14504035 BACKGROUND

• De Mattei M, Pellati A, Pasello M, Ongaro A, Setti S, Massari L, Gemmati D, Caruso A. Effects of physical stimulation with electromagnetic field and insulin growth factor-I treatment on proteoglycan synthesis of bovine articular cartilage. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2004 Oct;12(10):793-800. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2004.06.012.

  PMID: 15450529 BACKGROUND

• De Mattei M, Varani K, Masieri FF, Pellati A, Ongaro A, Fini M, Cadossi R, Vincenzi F, Borea PA, Caruso A. Adenosine analogs and electromagnetic fields inhibit prostaglandin E2 release in bovine synovial fibroblasts. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2009 Feb;17(2):252-62. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2008.06.002. Epub 2008 Jul 18.

  PMID: 18640059 BACKGROUND

• Durmus A, Cakmak A, Disci R, Muslumanoglu L. The efficiency of electromagnetic field treatment in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I. Disabil Rehabil. 2004 May 6;26(9):537-45. doi: 10.1080/09638280410001683155.

  PMID: 15204461 BACKGROUND

• Fini M, Giavaresi G, Torricelli P, Cavani F, Setti S, Cane V, Giardino R. Pulsed electromagnetic fields reduce knee osteoarthritic lesion progression in the aged Dunkin Hartley guinea pig. J Orthop Res. 2005 Jul;23(4):899-908. doi: 10.1016/j.orthres.2005.01.008. Epub 2005 Mar 17.

  PMID: 16023006 BACKGROUND

• Fini M, Torricelli P, Giavaresi G, Aldini NN, Cavani F, Setti S, Nicolini A, Carpi A, Giardino R. Effect of pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation on knee cartilage, subchondral and epyphiseal trabecular bone of aged Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs. Biomed Pharmacother. 2008 Dec;62(10):709-15. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2007.03.001. Epub 2007 Apr 3.

  PMID: 17459652 BACKGROUND

• Gobbi A, Lad D, Petrera M, Karnatzikos G. Symptomatic Early Osteoarthritis of the Knee Treated With Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields: Two-Year Follow-up. Cartilage. 2014 Apr;5(2):78-85. doi: 10.1177/1947603513515904.

  PMID: 26069687 BACKGROUND

• Comertoglu I, Gunes S, Elhan AH, Ustuner E, Kutlay S, Kucukdeveci AA. Effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in the management of complex regional pain syndrome type 1: A randomized-controlled trial. Turk J Phys Med Rehabil. 2022 Mar 1;68(1):107-116. doi: 10.5606/tftrd.2022.9074. eCollection 2022 Mar.

  PMID: 35949961 BACKGROUND

• Marcheggiani Muccioli GM, Grassi A, Setti S, Filardo G, Zambelli L, Bonanzinga T, Rimondi E, Busacca M, Zaffagnini S. Conservative treatment of spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee in the early stage: pulsed electromagnetic fields therapy. Eur J Radiol. 2013 Mar;82(3):530-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2012.11.011. Epub 2012 Dec 3.

  PMID: 23219192 BACKGROUND

• Moretti B, Notarnicola A, Moretti L, Setti S, De Terlizzi F, Pesce V, Patella V. I-ONE therapy in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty: a prospective, randomized and controlled study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2012 Jun 6;13:88. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-13-88.

  PMID: 22672794 BACKGROUND

• Notarnicola A, Covelli I, Moretti L, Setti S, De Terlizzi F, Moretti B. Predictors of responsiveness to biostimulation treatments (PEMFs and/or shockwaves) in patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I of the ankle. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2021 May-Jun;35(3):1087-1095. doi: 10.23812/21-122-L. No abstract available.

  PMID: 34155875 BACKGROUND

• Osti L, Buono AD, Maffulli N. Pulsed electromagnetic fields after rotator cuff repair: a randomized, controlled study. Orthopedics. 2015 Mar;38(3):e223-8. doi: 10.3928/01477447-20150305-61.

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• Pagani S, Veronesi F, Aldini NN, Fini M. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I, a Debilitating and Poorly Understood Syndrome. Possible Role for Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields: A Narrative Review. Pain Physician. 2017 Sep;20(6):E807-E822.

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• Servodio Iammarrone C, Cadossi M, Sambri A, Grosso E, Corrado B, Servodio Iammarrone F. Is there a role of pulsed electromagnetic fields in management of patellofemoral pain syndrome? Randomized controlled study at one year follow-up. Bioelectromagnetics. 2016 Feb;37(2):81-8. doi: 10.1002/bem.21953. Epub 2016 Jan 12.

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• Varani K, De Mattei M, Vincenzi F, Gessi S, Merighi S, Pellati A, Ongaro A, Caruso A, Cadossi R, Borea PA. Characterization of adenosine receptors in bovine chondrocytes and fibroblast-like synoviocytes exposed to low frequency low energy pulsed electromagnetic fields. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2008 Mar;16(3):292-304. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2007.07.004. Epub 2007 Aug 16.

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• Varani K, Gessi S, Merighi S, Iannotta V, Cattabriga E, Spisani S, Cadossi R, Borea PA. Effect of low frequency electromagnetic fields on A2A adenosine receptors in human neutrophils. Br J Pharmacol. 2002 May;136(1):57-66. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0704695.

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• Veronesi F, Cadossi M, Giavaresi G, Martini L, Setti S, Buda R, Giannini S, Fini M. Pulsed electromagnetic fields combined with a collagenous scaffold and bone marrow concentrate enhance osteochondral regeneration: an in vivo study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2015 Sep 2;16:233. doi: 10.1186/s12891-015-0683-2.

  PMID: 26328626 BACKGROUND

• Veronesi F, Fini M, Giavaresi G, Ongaro A, De Mattei M, Pellati A, Setti S, Tschon M. Experimentally induced cartilage degeneration treated by pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation; an in vitro study on bovine cartilage. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2015 Oct 20;16:308. doi: 10.1186/s12891-015-0760-6.

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• Kotiuk V, Burianov O, Kostrub O, Khimion L, Zasadnyuk I. The impact of mirror therapy on body schema perception in patients with complex regional pain syndrome after distal radius fractures. Br J Pain. 2019 Feb;13(1):35-42. doi: 10.1177/2049463718782544. Epub 2018 Jun 13.

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• Vincenzi F, Targa M, Corciulo C, Gessi S, Merighi S, Setti S, Cadossi R, Goldring MB, Borea PA, Varani K. Pulsed electromagnetic fields increased the anti-inflammatory effect of A(2)A and A(3) adenosine receptors in human T/C-28a2 chondrocytes and hFOB 1.19 osteoblasts. PLoS One. 2013 May 31;8(5):e65561. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065561. Print 2013.

  PMID: 23741498 BACKGROUND

• Zorzi C, Dall'Oca C, Cadossi R, Setti S. Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on patients' recovery after arthroscopic surgery: prospective, randomized and double-blind study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2007 Jul;15(7):830-4. doi: 10.1007/s00167-007-0298-8. Epub 2007 Feb 28.

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MeSH Terms

Conditions

Arthralgia; Complex Regional Pain Syndromes; Foot Diseases

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Skin Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Spontaneous, prospective, randomized study with control group

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 8, 2023
• First Posted: June 28, 2023
• Study Start: August 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2025
• Study Completion: December 1, 2025
• Last Updated: December 8, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

IT (1)