Dec 10 2008
Magnets For Pain - Do They Work?
I have always wondered if the magnet bracelets and other magnetic items people wear for pain really help. I admit that I have always been skeptical and that is why I have never bought any of them. According to this article, the jury is still out on whether magnetics are effective in treating pain. There are two types of magnets sold for pain treatment - static magnets and electromagnets. According to the information in the article on MSN, the electromagnets show the most promise.
The article suggests that people in pain stay away from the static magnets because most of the research done on static magnets show that they are not effective. They have only been shown to slightly improve back pain. Types of static magnets for sale include patches, disks, bracelets, belts, bandages, shoe inserts and mattress pads.
However, the article does suggest that it may be worth asking your physican about electromagnets:
[Electromagnets] like an MRI, produce pulsed magnetic fields only when an electrical current passes through them. They’ve been shown to speed healing of bone fractures, and a study published in Pharmacopsychiatry (March 2008) found that they effectively treated depression in patients who did not respond to antidepressants alone. Studies of their effect on urinary incontinence, migraines, and osteoarthritis have produced mixed results. More research is needed, and they should be used under a doctor’s supervision.
