EMTT Therapy Brisbane | Back Pain Doctor

Extracorporeal magnetotransduction therapy (EMTT) is an emerging, non-invasive treatment that applies high-intensity, rapidly alternating magnetic field pulses to musculoskeletal tissue. It is often used alongside shockwave therapy.

STORZ MAGNETOLITH extracorporeal magnetotransduction therapy (EMTT) device — We use the STORZ MAGNETOLITH for EMTT.

What it can help with

Only ever as an adjunct, alongside a treatment that has evidence behind it
Most often added to a course of shockwave therapy
Considered where a chronic problem has not settled with loading and time
Never offered as the treatment on its own, or as a reason to delay one that works

Suitability depends on your individual diagnosis and is assessed at consultation.

EMTT (extracorporeal magnetotransduction therapy) applies high-intensity, rapidly alternating magnetic field pulses to musculoskeletal tissue. It operates at a substantially higher field strength and frequency range than conventional pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) devices, with the aim of stimulating cellular processes involved in tissue repair.

In practice, EMTT is most often used as an adjunct to shockwave therapy rather than on its own. It is non-invasive and does not require needles or anaesthetic.

Because the evidence for EMTT is still developing, we are deliberately cautious about how we describe it. It may be a reasonable option as part of a broader plan for certain chronic conditions, but it is not a guaranteed or established treatment. Whether it is suitable for you is assessed at consultation, with a clear discussion of the current evidence, the expected benefits and the alternatives.

How it works

EMTT is often mentioned alongside shockwave therapy, but it works by an entirely different physical principle. Shockwave uses acoustic (sound) energy; EMTT is electromagnetic. The device generates a rapidly oscillating, high-intensity magnetic field — in the current clinical platform, in the order of tens of millitesla oscillating at high frequency — which, by induction, produces small electrical fields within the tissue.

The proposed biological idea is magnetotransduction: these induced fields are thought to influence cellular signalling and repair processes. The strongest laboratory support so far is in bone cells, where EMTT has been shown to increase bone-forming (osteoblast) gene activity and matrix mineralisation. It is important to be clear that these are evolving hypotheses — the mechanism is less settled than for shockwave, and the laboratory findings have not been translated into proof of benefit for nerve or many soft-tissue conditions.

What the evidence shows

EMTT is an emerging therapy with a smaller and less mature evidence base than shockwave therapy, and it should not be considered an established or proven treatment. The strongest current human evidence is a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial of 126 patients with knee osteoarthritis, rotator cuff enthesopathy or lumbar spondyloarthrosis, which reported better physical function and lower pain with EMTT than sham at six and twelve weeks, with mild local side effects. Note that this was a degenerative musculoskeletal-pain study — not a nerve-entrapment study — and a separate scoping review of EMTT for fracture healing found only a handful of small studies supporting it as a possible adjunct. Two cautions matter. First, the clinical literature is still small and concentrated in degenerative joint and tendon conditions, so EMTT's role is best framed as an adjunct, most often alongside shockwave therapy, rather than a stand-alone or first-line treatment. Second, several of the key EMTT studies are linked to the device manufacturer (STORZ Medical) — through supply of the study or sham device or author disclosures — which lowers confidence when the evidence base is small and mostly positive. We weigh that openly, and we will be honest about what is and is not known for your specific condition.

Sources: EMTT for musculoskeletal disorders — double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT (J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil, 2025) , EMTT mechanism — osteoblast gene upregulation & matrix mineralisation in bone healing (Biomedicines, 2024)

What to expect

EMTT is non-invasive and applied over the affected area without needles or anaesthetic. It is commonly delivered as a course of sessions and is frequently combined with shockwave therapy. The number of sessions and whether EMTT is appropriate for you are determined by your diagnosis and discussed at consultation, along with the current evidence and cost. We use the STORZ Medical MAGNETOLITH.

Conditions reviewed for this treatment

There are no available studies of this treatment in any condition we see. The mechanism is plausible and it is reasonable to offer on that basis, but plausibility is not evidence, and listing conditions here would imply an indication the published literature does not support. It may still be offered as an adjunct alongside treatment that does have evidence, once that gap has been explained — never as the plan on its own.

Frequently asked questions

Is EMTT a proven treatment?

No. EMTT is an emerging treatment with a developing evidence base. Some trials are encouraging, but the research is still limited and a number of studies have links to the device manufacturer. We will be honest with you about what is and is not known for your specific condition.

How is EMTT different from shockwave therapy?

They are different technologies. Shockwave uses acoustic pressure waves, while EMTT uses high-intensity magnetic field pulses. EMTT is often used as an adjunct alongside shockwave rather than as a replacement for it.

Does it hurt?

EMTT is generally well tolerated and is applied over the area without needles or anaesthetic.

Is it covered by Medicare?

There is no specific Medicare item number for EMTT itself, but it is delivered as part of a musculoskeletal treatment program during a standard GP consultation, so your appointment is billed under the standard time-based GP consultation item numbers, which attract a Medicare rebate. Appointments are not bulk billed, so an out-of-pocket gap applies. We confirm current fees and rebates with you beforehand.

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Your assessment focuses on understanding the likely source of your pain and the most appropriate non-surgical options for your diagnosis, with the aim of reducing pain and improving function.

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EMTT (Magnetotransduction Therapy)