Magnetic therapy involves placing magnets on different areas of the body to promote healing and reduce pain. Using magnets to decrease pain is considered an alternative treatment method due to the lack of sound scientific evidence proving its effectiveness. The United States Food and Drug Administration does not classify magnets as medical devices, despite their use for several different conditions among certain practitioners and individuals.
History
Magnets have been used to treat pain from gout and arthritis since the middle ages. Dr. Albert Roy Davis founded the principles of modern magnetic therapy in the 1970s, claiming that magnets could cure arthritis pain and other medical conditions. Magnetic therapy has been popular in Europe, Japan and China and has become a large industry in the United States as well, according to the American Cancer Society.
Types
Static magnets made of natural elements are commonly used to treat pain. Electromagnets were approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat bone fractures in 1979 and they may be effective in treating certain types of pain, such as migraines, pelvic pain and knee pain resulting from osteoarthritis, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Some practitioners simply place magnets on various joints and pressure points for several minutes per session. Other proponents of magnetic therapy for pain recommend patients wear magnetic jewelry, such as bracelets or necklaces, on a regular basis to reduce pain. Magnets are also placed in bands and belts that patients can wrap around the extremities or lower back. Other magnetic products include blankets, shoe insoles and pillows.
Theories
Alternative medical practitioners who use magnetic therapy to treat various kinds of pain in their patients believe that the static magnets used in therapy interact with the body's electromagnetic impulses to produce a healing effect. Some practitioners and patients believe magnets help reduce joint pain by improving circulation, changing the way nerves interpret pain and send pain signals to the brain, and strengthening the body's overall healing capabilities.
Efficacy
Most medical studies conducted on the efficacy of magnetic therapy in treating pain have been inconclusive or have shown little evidence to support the use of magnets as a main treatment option for pain. It can be difficult for researchers to get an accurate picture of the efficacy of magnetic therapy since controlled trials are difficult. Study participants can easily distinguish between actual magnets and placebo magnets by holding them up to magnetic objects.
Side Effects
Magnetic therapy is typically harmless and results in very few side effects. Magnets may interfere with certain medical devices, such as pacemakers, insulin pumps and defibrillators, so patients with these devices should refrain from using magnets to treat pain. Magnets can dilate the blood vessels, which may affect the delivery of medication administered through patches.
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