How I Use PEMF for Pain, Recovery and Rejuvenation

But First, What the Heck Is PEMF?

Pulsed Electromagnetic Frequency also known as PEMF is a technology that delivers electromagnetic signals to the body through a mat that you sit or lie on. It’s designed to promote cellular activity and encourage the body’s natural healing pathways. The energy is targeted toward areas of the body that are injured or in need of cellular repair and regeneration.

This is the PEMF mat that we use.

If you’re raising your eyebrows because this sounds like a plot from a sci-fi movie, I get it.  It does sound a bit out there. But every cell in your body does run on cellular energy. This is a biological process. If you remember Krebs Cycle from biology class (many of us would like to forget), it describes the process of creating cellular energy.

Your cells are like microscopic factories that have many jobs. They: 

• repair damage
• reduce inflammation
• build new tissue
• communicate properly
• Process nutrients 

And more. But they need POWER to do so. That power comes from the energy produced inside the cell. 

The more cellular energy available, the faster and more efficient the body becomes at healing and overall optimizing for wellness. 

This is where PEMF therapy comes in. It supports the body’s natural pathways for creating cellular energy. But, what does all of this really mean? And how could you use it in your daily life to support your wellbeing? 

My Experience with PEMF

I’m naturally a skeptic about wellness technology. In my opinion, it’s becoming more and more like social media. The vibe is loads of information with a side of overwhelm and the actual benefit is not always clear. This is partially why I’m so selective about what gadgets I add to my routine. 

For the longest time, I didn’t use our PEMF mat. I didn’t see the value. But I made a goal to build my strength by lifting heavier weights during my resistance workouts. Shortly after that, DOMS started showing up loud and consistently.

Who is DOMS, you ask? Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. Think of DOMS as that annoying neighbor that stops by unannounced and you can’t wait for her to leave. 

Since I’m working out 3 – 4 days a week, DOMS is showing up regularly and it sucks. I’m stiff and sore in areas I didn’t even know I had muscles. The worst part is that it feels like I’ve lost some of my flexibility because my muscles are so tight after training.

Rather than giving up on my goal, I asked my biohacking hubby about the PEMF mat he uses. The strongest use case (from what I’ve seen) is for reduced joint pain, muscle soreness, stiffness, chronic pain, arthritis, back pain and injury recovery. Right up my alley. 

My left glute and hamstring have been lit up after leg day and the nagging soreness has made it hard to sleep – even after stretching and using my Theragun.

I did one 20 minute session with the PEMF mat one night before bed. I didn’t notice a huge change immediately after, but the next morning the discomfort went from a 7 to a 2. After another 10 minute session the following night, it was mostly gone. 

Here’s why I love it:

• It’s passive: I don’t need something else “to do.” With this mat, I can sit or lie on it while I’m reading a book or working on my computer. It requires no extra effort from me other than turning it on. 
• It’s heated: A welcomed comfort to stiff and sore muscles. Nuff said. 
• It’s quick: I don’t have to use this thing for an hour to get an effect. My sessions have been 10 to 30 minutes and I see results – even with only 10 minutes of use. 
• It’s customizable: There are 4 different levels to choose from depending on the effect that I want. 
• It’s portable: It’s easy to move to different areas of the house or pack in a car or suitcase for travel. 
• It’s effective: This is the biggest factor in whether or not I’m going to use or continue to use something. It has to WORK. There’s plenty of wellness “stuff” that’s theoretically useful. But if I can’t feel the results or measure the results, I’m probably not going to use it. 

I’m a believer. And I’ve continued to use our mat regularly. See the link below for the one that I swear by. 

If you want to know more about PEMF Therapy, whether it’s right for you and how to choose a good mat – check out my podcast episode here where I get into alllll the details.