Prospective Trial of the OrthoCor Advanced System for Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition characterized by degeneration of the joints, affecting up to 240 million people worldwide.1 Its disabling effects are frequently associated with persistent joint pain, loss of mobility and function, and decreased quality of life that often lead to surgical procedures such as partial or total joint arthroplasty.1 Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy is a safe, clinically proven, nonpharmacological therapy that has previously been shown to have beneficial effects on pain and physical function in patients with osteoarthritis.1,2 The OrthoCor Advanced System's novel combination of PEMF with the ability to monitor mobility metrics may have additional beneficial effects on pain, function, and quality of life for individuals affected by osteoarthritis.

PEMF is a low-level, time-varying electromagnetic field that passes through and affects superficial soft tissue, helping to accelerate the body's natural anti-inflammatory and recovery responses. PEMF has been shown to stimulate tissue repair pathways that result in pain and inflammation reduction, such as the binding of calcium (Ca2+) to calmodulin (CaM) which triggers an anti-inflammatory nitric oxide (NO) cascade.2-4 NO is a key element in the body's natural healing process. It is also a vasodilator, increasing blood and lymphatic flow.3 Additionally, NO down-regulates interleukin-1 beta (IL1β) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which leads to reduced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activation and fewer prostaglandins - molecules responsible for causing inflammation and pain.5 Unlike other systemic COX-2 inhibitors such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), OrthoCor's targeted PEMF signals locally modify these pathways, thereby reducing pain and inflammation without the risks and side effects associated with systemic medication.5

In addition to applying PEMF therapy, the OrthoCor Advanced System features a consumer facing smart device application as well as prescriber portal, allowing direct visibility of therapy compliance, reported pain levels, and functional performance metrics by both patient and physician. Daily recovery measurements may additionally supplement range of motion and joint strengthening and may encourage daily adherence to prescribed physical therapy and exercise. Strengthening exercises are considered a core standard of care treatment for managing knee osteoarthritis.5 Thus, the combined effects of PEMF and recovery insights may provide enhanced benefits to affected patients.

The OrthoCor Advanced System is a portable (battery operated) non-invasive device that delivers Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy plus chemical heat from OrthoPods for pain relief in the ankle, back, knee, wrist, elbow, shoulder, foot, or neck, while also providing the user with functional and mobility metrics. The microprocessor delivers the pulsed RF signal to the tissue target via inductive coupling with an applicator coil, while a 9-axis motion sensor tracks joint mobility during therapy.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the OrthoCor Advanced System device for relieving symptoms and improving physical function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. It is hypothesized that the OrthoCor Advanced System device will improve knee range of motion and reported quality of life, as well as decrease reported pain levels associated with the knee.