Magnetic therapy, also known as magnotherapy, is an alternative therapy that is used to treat several different disorders, such as, reducing pain and inflammation, curing depression and stress. The use of magnetic therapy is controversial as many medical practitioners do not consider it a credible therapy.
Functions
According to Magnetic Therapy Facts, when therapeutic magnets are placed on the skin, their magnetic forces penetrate the body and interact with the iron in the blood. This magnetic attraction is said to increase blood flow and improve circulation. The stimulation is localized unless the magnets at placed on a major artery. In this case, the magnetic forces are believed to have a much wider field of effect.
Features
Because the magnetic forces have a boosting effect on your circulation, Magnetic Therapy Facts, explains that a greater concentration of oxygen, hormones and vital nutrients are transported to the tissues and organs. Similarly, endorphins – the body’s natural pain-killers – are also more readily available. This means that injuries will heal faster and pain will be alleviated.
Shoulder Pain
According to Magnetic Therapy Living, people experience shoulder pain when the shoulder muscles are over-worked, weakened or torn. Shoulder pain can be quite debilitating, particularly if you have hurt the rotator cuff. This involves inflammation of the tendon that rests beneath the bone on the outside of the shoulder. It is a common injury and causes pain to the outside or front of the shoulder. When the rotator cuff is damaged, pain worsens when you lift your arm above your head. Magnetic shoulder support pads are available for treating this type of pain. These claim to improve circulation, reduce inflammation and eliminate pain.
Misconceptions
According to David W. Ramey, DVM, claims that magnetic therapy is able to alleviate inflammation, improve circulation and speed up the healing process, are over-simplistic and have no medical evidence to support them. To date, no controlled, double-blind studies have been undertaken to asses the affects of magnetic fields upon body tissues.
Considerations
As the American Cancer Society explains, there is currently no scientific evidence to support the use of magnetic therapy for treating disease. Although it is a scientific fact that electromagnetic forces exist within the human body, no studies have been conducted to assess whether the forces of therapeutic magnets are strong enough to interact with them.
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