Back pain affects millions of Americans in the United States each day. When conventional treatments fail, many back pain sufferers turn to alternative medicine practices for relief. Magnetic therapy is becoming increasingly popular as alternative treatment for back pain. However, despite the growing popularity of this practice, the use of magnets as a source of back pain relief remains controversial.
Types
A magnet is an object made out of metal or alloy materials. Magnets are surrounded by a force known as a magnetic field that can attract other metal objects. Magnets sold for back pain relief are typically static magnets. Static magnets are magnets that produce a constant, unchanging magnetic field. Magnet strength is measured in units called gauss (G). According to the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), magnets used to treat back pain can range from 300G to 5,000G.
Function
Magnet enthusiasts like the Magnetic Therapy Council believe that the magnetic fields produced by static magnets can help ease your back pain by correcting disturbances to your body's natural magnetic field and by encouraging the release of naturally-occurring pain killers called endorphins. According to the Magnetic Therapy Council, magnets placed over the affected area of your back can penetrate your skin and tissues and enter your blood stream where they work to improve cell performance. Once in your bloodstream, the magnetic field helps reduce cell damage by encouraging your cells to correct misaligned ions and release excess fluid.
Products
Magnets sold as a source of back pain relief are available in a variety of wearable products. This includes magnetic bands, belts, blankets, bracelets, sleeping pads, necklaces and adhesive patches. To get relief from mild back pain, the Magnetic Therapy Council suggests wearing magnets of 1,200G to 1,700G near the affected area for about three weeks. According to NCCAM however, no accepted standard currently exists that outlines the most effective strength, placement or length of use when using magnets to treat back pain.
Research
Currently there is no concrete evidence available that demonstrates exactly how magnets work to relieve back pain. According to NCCAM, researchers speculate that magnets may work by stopping pain signals from reaching your brain; by stabilizing the rate of cell growth and death; and by boosting the amount of blood, nutrients and oxygen received by your tissues.
Warning
According to NCCAM, using magnets to treat back is generally safe for most people and involves a low risk of side effects. Still, NCCAM warns that using magnets to treat back pain can be dangerous if you use a medical device like a pacemaker, an insulin pump or a defibrillator. A magnet's magnetic field can potentially cause the device to malfunction. To be safe, talk to your doctor first before using magnets to treat your back pain.
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