Objective:To investigate the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields(PEMFs)combined with iron oxide nanoparticle paramagnetic gel on muscle strength,mass,and function in elderly patients with degenerative muscle atrophy.Methods:The clinical data of 40 patients with degenerative muscle atrophy who were treated in our hospital from Sep 2024 to Mar 2025 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the treatment method,patients were divided into the PEMFs group and the combined treatment group,with 20 cases in each group.The intervention sites in both groups were the bilateral quadriceps femoris.The PEMFs group received low-frequency alternating PEMFs therapy,while an iron oxide nanoparticle paramagnetic gel was applied locally to the target area prior to each PEMFs session in the combined treatment group.Muscle strength,mass,and functional indicators were assessed in both groups before and after the intervention.Results:After 12 weeks of intervention,the combined treatment group showed greater improvements in maximum voluntary contraction,rectus femoris thickness,and cross-sectional area compared to the PEMFs group(P＜0.05).Additionally,the combined treatment group showed further reductions in timed up and go test(TUGT)and five-repetition sit-to-stand test(5STS)durations,as well as increased walking distance in the 6-minute walk test(6MWT),all of which were better than those observed in the PEMFs group(P＜0.05).The combined therapy also resulted in superior improvements in skeletal muscle mass index and Berg Balance Scale score(P＜0.05).Conclusions:PEMFs have a promotive effect on muscle strength,mass,and functional performance.The combination with iron oxide nanoparticle paramagnetic gel can further enhance its therapeutic efficacy.

Objective:To investigate the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields(PEMFs)combined with iron oxide nanoparticle paramagnetic gel on muscle strength,mass,and function in elderly patients with degenerative muscle atrophy.Methods:The clinical data of 40 patients with degenerative muscle atrophy who were treated in our hospital from Sep 2024 to Mar 2025 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the treatment method,patients were divided into the PEMFs group and the combined treatment group,with 20 cases in each group.The intervention sites in both groups were the bilateral quadriceps femoris.The PEMFs group received low-frequency alternating PEMFs therapy,while an iron oxide nanoparticle paramagnetic gel was applied locally to the target area prior to each PEMFs session in the combined treatment group.Muscle strength,mass,and functional indicators were assessed in both groups before and after the intervention.Results:After 12 weeks of intervention,the combined treatment group showed greater improvements in maximum voluntary contraction,rectus femoris thickness,and cross-sectional area compared to the PEMFs group(P＜0.05).Additionally,the combined treatment group showed further reductions in timed up and go test(TUGT)and five-repetition sit-to-stand test(5STS)durations,as well as increased walking distance in the 6-minute walk test(6MWT),all of which were better than those observed in the PEMFs group(P＜0.05).The combined therapy also resulted in superior improvements in skeletal muscle mass index and Berg Balance Scale score(P＜0.05).Conclusions:PEMFs have a promotive effect on muscle strength,mass,and functional performance.The combination with iron oxide nanoparticle paramagnetic gel can further enhance its therapeutic efficacy.