Meniscal TearsNCT07117929
Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy on Meniscal Healing, Symptom Relief, and Knee Function
A study testing Active PEMF and Exercise in people with Meniscal Tears, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) combined with home exercise improves healing and function in adults with meniscus tears. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does PEMF therapy help heal meniscus tears, as seen on MRI scans? 2. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Meniscal Tears
- What is being tested?
- Active PEMF and Exercise
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 15 Aug 2025to Aug 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male and female patients aged 18-60
- Clinical history, signs, and symptoms indicative of a meniscal tear
- MRI confirmation of a non-displaced, and unilateral meniscal tear
- Willingness to adhere to a 8-week regimen of PEMF and exercise therapy
- Ability to provide written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Congenital discoid meniscus confirmed by MRI
- Meniscal root tears confirmed by MRI
- Presence of mechanical symptoms (e.g., locking or catching)
- Acute onset exacerbation of knee symptoms (e.g., severe pain or swelling)
- Surgical intervention during the therapy session
- Knee axis deformities that necessitate surgical correction
Show all 9Show fewer
- Prior surgery or fracture in the affected limb within the past 12 months
- Severe radiographic knee OA (Kellgren-Lawrence scale ≥3)
- Implanted electronic medical devices (e.g., pacemakers or cochlear implants) • Current pregnancy or intention to become pregnant during the study period
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Hong Kong1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Room 124007, 10/F, Lui Chi Woo Clinical Sciences Building, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
Hong Kong
May Wong, 26364171, wingkimaywong@cuhk.edu.hk
About this study
Official title: Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy on Meniscal Healing, Symptom Relief, and Knee Function in Patients With Isolated Meniscal Tears: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) combined with home exercise improves healing and function in adults with meniscus tears. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does PEMF therapy help heal meniscus tears, as seen on MRI scans?
- Does PEMF therapy subjectively reduce knee pain, improve movement, and enhance quality of life?
- Does PEMF therapy objectively help patients perform daily activities more easily?
Read more
Researchers will compare PEMF therapy against a sham (inactive) treatment to determine if it provides additional benefits.
Participants will:
- Be assigned randomly to either the PEMF group (active treatment) or the sham PEMF group (inactive, but identical in appearance)
- Receive either real PEMF therapy or sham treatment twice a week for 8 weeks (each session lasts 10 minutes).
- Follow a standard home exercise program to strengthen their knees.
- Have their knee function, pain levels, and healing progress checked through MRI scans, questionnaires, imaging and physical tests.
- Return for 3 follow-up visits after the 8-week treatment period.
- Conditions
- Meniscal Tears
- Being tested
- Active PEMF, Sham PEMF, Exercise
- Keywords
- meniscal injuries, meniscus tear, meniscal injury
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Active PEMFDevice
PEMF: 1.5mT, 10Hz, 10 minutes
Sham PEMFDevice
PEMF 0mT, 0Hz, 10 minutes
ExerciseOther
Standardised home exercise protocol
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| PEMF Group | Active comparator | 1. PEMF Therapy: Participants will undergo active PEMF therapy sessions lasting 10 minutes each, conducted twice weekly for 16 sessions, with a specified PEMF device (QuantumTX Pte Ltd, Singapore).
2. Exercise Therapy: All participants will be provided with the same standardised home exercise protocol. Receives: Device: Active PEMF; Other: Exercise |
| Control Group | Sham comparator | 1. Sham PEMF Therapy: Participants will undergo sham PEMF therapy sessions lasting 10 minutes each, conducted twice weekly for 16 sessions, with a specified PEMF device (QuantumTX Pte Ltd, Singapore).
2. Exercise Therapy: All participants will be provided with the same standardised home exercise protocol. Receives: Device: Sham PEMF; Other: Exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Between-group difference in mean change of intrameniscal fluid-equivalent signal area at 6 months post-intervention, as assessed by MRI.
A musculoskeletal radiologist, blinded to the participants' group assignments and clinical details, will perform these assessments using fat- suppressed T2-weighted imaging. The primary imaging endpoint will be the between-group difference in the mean change of the intrameniscal fluid-equivalent signal area (mm2) from baseline to 6 months. The fluid-equivalent signal area will be delineated and quantified using standardized region-of-interest (ROI) methods on consecutive slices encompassing the original tear site.
Measured: Baseline to 6 months post intervention
Secondary outcomes (15)
Change in Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Scores for Pain, Symptoms, Activities of Daily Living, Sport/Recreation Function, and Knee-Related Quality of Life
The KOOS score is a 42-item patient-reported outcome measure assessing five subscales: Pain (9 items, score range 0-100), Symptoms (7 items, 0-100), Activities of Daily Living (17 items, 0-100), Sport/Recreation Function (5 items, 0-100), and Quality of Life (4 items, 0-100). Each subscale is scored separately from 0 (extreme problems) to 100 (no problems), with higher scores indicating better outcomes.
Measured: Baseline to 1-, 2-, 6-, and 12-months post intervention
Change in Western Ontario Meniscal Evaluation Tool (WOMET) Scores for Physical Symptoms, Sports/Work/Lifestyle, and Emotional Domains
The WOMET is a 16-item patient-reported questionnaire assessing meniscal tear-related quality of life across three domains: Physical Symptoms (10 items), Sports/Recreation/Work/Lifestyle (4 items), and Emotions (2 items). Each item is scored from 0 (no problem) to 5 (extreme problem), with total scores transformed to a 0-100 scale where 0 represents the best possible status and 100 represents the worst possible status. Higher scores indicate worse outcomes.
Measured: Baseline, 1, 2, 6, and 12 months post-intervention
Change from Baseline in Active Knee Range of Motion at 12 Month
Participant-initiated knee flexion-extension range measured in degrees using standardized goniometry, recording movement from full extension to maximum voluntary flexion.
Measured: Baseline, bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention, and at 2-, 6-, and 12-months post commencement of intervention.
Change from Baseline in Passive Knee Range of Motion at 12 Month
Researcher-assisted knee flexion-extension range measured in degrees using standardized goniometry, recording movement from full extension to maximum assisted flexion without participants' muscle activation
Measured: Baseline, bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention, and at 2-, 6-, and 12-months post commencement of intervention
Change from Baseline in 60-Second Sit-to-Stand Test Score (Number of Repetitions) at 12 Months
Quantifies lower limb functional strength and endurance by counting the maximum number of full sit-to-stand cycles completed in 60 seconds from a standardized-height chair. Higher counts indicate better functional performance.
Measured: Baseline, bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention, and at 2-, 6-, and 12-months post commencement of intervention.
Change from Baseline in 30-Second Step-Up Test Score (Number of Repetitions) at 12 Months
The maximum number of complete step-up cycles performed in 30 seconds on a standardized step. Higher counts indicate better unilateral strength.
Measured: Baseline, bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention, and at 2-, 6-, and 12-months post intervention
Change from Baseline in 30-Second Step-Down Test Score (Number of Repetitions) at 12 Months
Quantifies unilateral lower limb strength by counting the maximum number of complete step-down cycles performed in 30 seconds on a standardized step. Higher counts indicate better unilateral strength and eccentric control.
Measured: Baseline, bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention, and at 2-, 6-, and 12-months post commencement of intervention
Change from Baseline in Tissue Oxygenation 8 Weeks Using Photoacoustic Ultrasound Imaging
Oxygenation saturation levels (%) measured by photoacoustic ultrasound around the meniscal tissue area.
Measured: Bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention
Change from Baseline Vascularity Levels at 8 weeks using Photoacoustic Ultrasound Imaging.
Vascularity levels (AU) measured by photoacoustic ultrasound around the meniscal tissue area.
Measured: Bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention
Change from baseline skin temperature around the knee joint at 8 weeks using infrared thermography imaging.
Measured: Bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention
Change from Baseline in Meniscal Morphology at 8 Weeks Using Ultrasound Imaging
Meniscal structural integrity assessed via standardized ultrasound protocol using a validated 4-point scale where higher grades indicate worse pathology.
Measured: Baseline and bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention
Number of participants with re-injury and associated ligament injuries, as assessed via both clinical examination and MRI.
A re-injury or new ligament injury will be confirmed if both clinical examination indicates instability or significant changes from baseline, and MRI shows new or worsened structural damage compared to baseline images. We will document all instances of re-injury or new ligament injuries, including their nature and severity. The incidence of re-injuries and new ligament injuries will be compared between the PEMF and control groups, and we will analyze any correlation between meniscal healing status and the occurrence of re-injuries.
Measured: Baseline to 6 months post commencement of intervention
Change in Static Postural Control Assessed by Zebris Stance Analysis
Quantitative postural control assessment during 10-second standing on the Zebris stance analysis system, which consists of a capacitance-based foot pressure platform inserted within a treadmill. Parameters include postural sway and weight distribution such as sway area, forefoot vs heel force ratio, left vs right symmetry
Measured: Baseline, bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention, and at 2-, 6-, and 12-months post intervention
Change in Gait Function Assessed by Zebris Gait Analysis
Quantitative gait analysis during 5-minute walking on the Zebris gait analysis system, which consists of a capacitance-based foot pressure platform inserted within a treadmill. Spatiotemporal parameters (gait speed, step length, stride length, cadence), dynamic balance (centre of pressure path length, lateral symmetry index), and load distribution metrics (peak heel/forefoot pressure, weight transfer timing) will be collected.
Measured: Baseline, bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention, and at 2-, 6-, and 12-months post intervention
Change in Running Function Assessed by Zebris Gait Analysis
Quantitative gait analysis during a 5-minute run on the Zebris gait analysis system, which consists of a capacitance-based foot pressure platform inserted within a treadmill. Spatiotemporal parameters (gait speed, step length, stride length, cadence), dynamic balance (centre of pressure path length, lateral symmetry index), and load distribution metrics (peak heel/forefoot pressure, weight transfer timing) will be collected.
Measured: Baseline, bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention, and at 2-, 6-, and 12-months post intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Aug 2025
- Study start15 Aug 2025
- Primary completionFeb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionAug 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Meniscal TearsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Chinese University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Patrick Shu-Hang YUNG, Chinese University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07117929
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2024.622-T
- Other IDs
- 22230771
- Status last verified
- Nov 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Jul 2025
- Last updated
- 4 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: All IPD that underlie results in a publication
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy on Meniscal Healing, Symptom Relief, and Knee Function in Patients With Isolated Meniscal Tears: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07117929
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2024.622-T
- Conditions
- Meniscal Tears
- Keywords
- meniscal injuries, meniscus tear, meniscal injury
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Aug 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 12 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) combined with home exercise improves healing and function in adults with meniscus tears. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does PEMF therapy help heal meniscus tears, as seen on MRI scans?
- Does PEMF therapy subjectively reduce knee pain, improve movement, and enhance quality of life?
- Does PEMF therapy objectively help patients perform daily activities more easily?
Researchers will compare PEMF therapy against a sham (inactive) treatment to determine if it provides additional benefits.
Participants will:
- Be assigned randomly to either the PEMF group (active treatment) or the sham PEMF group (inactive, but identical in appearance)
- Receive either real PEMF therapy or sham treatment twice a week for 8 weeks (each session lasts 10 minutes).
- Follow a standard home exercise program to strengthen their knees.
- Have their knee function, pain levels, and healing progress checked through MRI scans, questionnaires, imaging and physical tests.
- Return for 3 follow-up visits after the 8-week treatment period.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| PEMF Group | Active comparator | Device: Active PEMF, Other: Exercise1. PEMF Therapy: Participants will undergo active PEMF therapy sessions lasting 10 minutes each, conducted twice weekly for 16 sessions, with a specified PEMF device (QuantumTX Pte Ltd, Singapore). 2. Exercise Therapy: All participants will be provided with the same standardised home exercise protocol. |
| Control Group | Sham comparator | Device: Sham PEMF, Other: Exercise1. Sham PEMF Therapy: Participants will undergo sham PEMF therapy sessions lasting 10 minutes each, conducted twice weekly for 16 sessions, with a specified PEMF device (QuantumTX Pte Ltd, Singapore). 2. Exercise Therapy: All participants will be provided with the same standardised home exercise protocol. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Male and female patients aged 18-60
- Clinical history, signs, and symptoms indicative of a meniscal tear
- MRI confirmation of a non-displaced, and unilateral meniscal tear
- Willingness to adhere to a 8-week regimen of PEMF and exercise therapy
- Ability to provide written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Congenital discoid meniscus confirmed by MRI
- Meniscal root tears confirmed by MRI
- Presence of mechanical symptoms (e.g., locking or catching)
- Acute onset exacerbation of knee symptoms (e.g., severe pain or swelling)
- Surgical intervention during the therapy session
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Active PEMFPEMF: 1.5mT, 10Hz, 10 minutes | Device | PEMF Group |
| Sham PEMFPEMF 0mT, 0Hz, 10 minutes | Device | Control Group |
| ExerciseStandardised home exercise protocol | Other | Control Group, PEMF Group |
Primary outcome
Between-group difference in mean change of intrameniscal fluid-equivalent signal area at 6 months post-intervention, as assessed by MRI.
Time frame: Baseline to 6 months post intervention
A musculoskeletal radiologist, blinded to the participants' group assignments and clinical details, will perform these assessments using fat- suppressed T2-weighted imaging. The primary imaging endpoint will be the between-group difference in the mean change of the intrameniscal fluid-equivalent signal area (mm2) from baseline to 6 months. The fluid-equivalent signal area will be delineated and quantified using standardized region-of-interest (ROI) methods on consecutive slices encompassing the original tear site.
15 secondary outcomes
Change in Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Scores for Pain, Symptoms, Activities of Daily Living, Sport/Recreation Function, and Knee-Related Quality of Life
Time frame: Baseline to 1-, 2-, 6-, and 12-months post intervention
Change in Western Ontario Meniscal Evaluation Tool (WOMET) Scores for Physical Symptoms, Sports/Work/Lifestyle, and Emotional Domains
Time frame: Baseline, 1, 2, 6, and 12 months post-intervention
Change from Baseline in Active Knee Range of Motion at 12 Month
Time frame: Baseline, bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention, and at 2-, 6-, and 12-months post commencement of intervention.
Change from Baseline in Passive Knee Range of Motion at 12 Month
Time frame: Baseline, bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention, and at 2-, 6-, and 12-months post commencement of intervention
Change from Baseline in 60-Second Sit-to-Stand Test Score (Number of Repetitions) at 12 Months
Time frame: Baseline, bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention, and at 2-, 6-, and 12-months post commencement of intervention.
Change from Baseline in 30-Second Step-Up Test Score (Number of Repetitions) at 12 Months
Time frame: Baseline, bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention, and at 2-, 6-, and 12-months post intervention
Change from Baseline in 30-Second Step-Down Test Score (Number of Repetitions) at 12 Months
Time frame: Baseline, bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention, and at 2-, 6-, and 12-months post commencement of intervention
Change from Baseline in Tissue Oxygenation 8 Weeks Using Photoacoustic Ultrasound Imaging
Time frame: Bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention
Change from Baseline Vascularity Levels at 8 weeks using Photoacoustic Ultrasound Imaging.
Time frame: Bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention
Change from baseline skin temperature around the knee joint at 8 weeks using infrared thermography imaging.
Time frame: Bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention
Change from Baseline in Meniscal Morphology at 8 Weeks Using Ultrasound Imaging
Time frame: Baseline and bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention
Number of participants with re-injury and associated ligament injuries, as assessed via both clinical examination and MRI.
Time frame: Baseline to 6 months post commencement of intervention
Change in Static Postural Control Assessed by Zebris Stance Analysis
Time frame: Baseline, bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention, and at 2-, 6-, and 12-months post intervention
Change in Gait Function Assessed by Zebris Gait Analysis
Time frame: Baseline, bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention, and at 2-, 6-, and 12-months post intervention
Change in Running Function Assessed by Zebris Gait Analysis
Time frame: Baseline, bi-weekly during the 8-week intervention, and at 2-, 6-, and 12-months post intervention
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Nov 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. All IPD that underlie results in a publication
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Active PEMF and Exercise in people with Meniscal Tears, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Nov 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact May Wong ((852)26364171, wingkimaywong@cuhk.edu.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Between-group difference in mean change of intrameniscal fluid-equivalent signal area at 6 months post-intervention, as assessed by MRI. (time frame: Baseline to 6 months post intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Nov 2026.