This past February, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma11 restricted the use of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy to licensed veterinarians in a disputed decision to classify the modality as a part of their state Veterinary Practice Acts.
PEMF in the Horse Industry
The popularity of the drug-free and noninvasive wellness modality PEMF—commonly known under the brand names MagnaWave and Pulse PEMF in the United States—is booming in the equine industry, with a 2022 survey reporting that 85% of riders have used it on their performance horses.22 Despite its widespread use, PEMF is currently unregulated in 47 U.S. states.
Horse owners often recruit PEMF practitioners to help maintain their animals’ well-being and performance. The electromagnetic device is believed to assist with blood circulation and pain and inflammation relief. When used by qualified professionals who respect the modality’s limitations, PEMF does not involve diagnosing, treating, or performing other tasks solely reserved for licensed veterinarians.
Instead, PEMF sessions are intended to reenergize cells, enabling them to function optimally and support the body’s own healing mechanisms, as described by the Association of PEMF Professionals (AOPP). Without representing a particular PEMF manufacturer or distributor, AOPP’s mission is to provide unbranded, research-based education and protect PEMF practitioners from overreaching regulation.
Restrictive Legislation
The newest restrictions in Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma have non-veterinarian PEMF practitioners—who make up most of the industry—worried that other states will follow suit. The concern has merit, as New York and several other northeastern states already consider equine massage therapy to fall under their respective Veterinary Practice Acts.33
“Given that state veterinary boards operate under the guidance of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the AOPP has launched a petition4 asking the organization to reconsider its classification of PEMF as veterinary medicine,” says Lauren Feger, vice president of the AOPP.
What Prompted This Regulation?
Because there are currently no requirements for PEMF practitioners’ education or qualifications, anyone can purchase a machine, complete a short (optional) online certification course, and advertise their services to the general public. As a result, the industry is at the mercy of well-intentioned but undereducated and misinformed practitioners without a clear scope of practice by which to abide.
“Unfortunately, some PEMF practitioners have been shut down following investigations by veterinary boards which concluded that they were engaging in veterinary medicine,” says Feger. “Misleading or unsubstantiated marketing claims [alleging to diagnose or cure conditions] have led to heightened scrutiny within our field and, as a result, three U.S. states have explicitly stated that PEMF falls under the domain of veterinary medicine.”
The exact verbiage used in the states’ legislative update is: “PEMF is considered veterinary medicine, and a veterinary license is required,” dismantling any loopholes or exceptions. “But that’s not all,” Feger says. “The majority of states have defined veterinary medicine in a manner that allows for interpretation that encompasses PEMF.”
While the AOPP does advocate for PEMF practitioner education and regulation, Feger says the association does not consider it essential to restrict the modality to licensed veterinarians. With the growing veterinary shortage, equine and livestock veterinarians are already stretched thin—especially in the rural states affected by this new legislation. Consequently, most doctors do not have the bandwidth to take over noninvasive wellness modalities that trained paraprofessionals can perform safely and effectively.
Instead, Feger and the AOPP support standardized, mandatory education for PEMF practitioners. “We firmly believe that will significantly elevate the PEMF industry’s credibility and bolster the professionalism of our practitioners,” Feger says. In the future, PEMF practitioners could be subjected to regulations similar to those of veterinary technicians, with comparable prerequisites, examinations, licensing, liability insurance5, and continuing education requirements—none of which currently exist in the PEMF world.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to equine PEMF practice, the industry must find a happy medium between “completely unregulated” and “restricted to veterinarians only.”
“To ensure appropriate regulation that safeguards both business owners and consumers, we must prioritize ongoing education and maintain ethical business practices,” Feger says. “We are committed to fostering an environment where practitioners and consumers alike can have confidence in the integrity, safety, and quality of PEMF services provided.”
References
- OK Veterinary Practice Act (see 775:10-10-1) and AOPP.
- https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/7039/
- https://iaamb.org/resources/laws-by-state/
Related Reading
- AVMA Reignites Congressional Efforts to Address Highest Level of Rural Veterinary Shortages
- So You Want to Be an Equine Veterinary Technician?
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