To study the effects of pulsed magnetic field on insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) level in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the association of IGF-1 alterations with the activities of daily living (ADL) of patients with brain injury.Sixty-five patients with brain injury were divided randomly into the control group (n=30) and magnetic therapy group (n=35), both receiving conventional therapy and in the latter group, daily pulsed magnetic field treatment (20-40 mT, 50 Hz, 20 min per time, 1 time per day) for 14 consecutive days were administered. On the first and 14th days of the treatment, 2 ml CSF was collected from the cases patients for IGF-1 measurement by radioimmunoassay, and Barthel index (BI) was used to assess the ADL of the patients.After a 14-day treatment, IGF-1 level in the CSF were significantly increased in the magnetic group in comparison with the level before the treatment and with those in the control group (P0.05). The scores of BI increased significantly in both groups after the treatment (P<0.01), but the increment was more obvious in the magnetic therapy group (P<0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between IGF-1 level in the CSF and BI in these patients (r=0.283, P=0.022).Pulsed magnetic field might increase IGF-1 level in the CSF of patients with brain injury to promote the recovery of the patients ADL, suggesting its potential clinical value in the treatment of brain injury.