| The idea of using magnetic therapy for | | | | In the Journal of Alternative and |
| therapeutic purposes started thousands of | | | | Complementary Medicine there was a study |
| years ago in Greece. It can increase blood | | | | conducted by researchers at the University of |
| flow and increase the oxygen level in the | | | | Virginia that looked into the effectiveness |
| body, which will alleviate the pain in the | | | | of magnetic therapy on patients suffering |
| treated area. So it shouldn't come as a | | | | from fibromyalgia pain. People with |
| surprise that athletes such as Bill | | | | fibromyalgia suffer from musculoskeletal |
| Romanowski and Steve Atwater have resorted to | | | | pain, fatigue and multiple tender points. |
| magnetic therapy to get some pain relief. | | | | Two percent of the population suffers from |
| The American public has also decided to use | | | | fibromyalgia. The 6-month study was |
| this alternative, non-invasive healing | | | | conducted on 94 patients suffering from |
| technique. One out of 1,000 American homes | | | | fibromyalgia to test the effectiveness of |
| use magnetic therapeutic products. Companies | | | | magnetic sleep pads. They were randomly |
| that sell magnetic therapeutic products say | | | | placed into 4 groups. The first group used |
| that American consumers will spend more than | | | | sleep pads with fake magnets. Another group |
| $500 million on these items this year. Some | | | | was asked to stick to their normal treatment |
| athletes are even endorsing brand-name | | | | routine that didn't involve magnetic therapy. |
| magnetic therapeutic products. The use of | | | | A third group used magnetic sleep pads that |
| these products is even more popular in other | | | | exposed their entire body to a low, uniform |
| parts of the world. One out of 7 Japanese | | | | magnetic field. The last group used magnetic |
| homes and 1 out of 10 German homes use these | | | | sleep pads that used magnets that varied in |
| products. There are many magnetic products | | | | intensity. At the end of the 6 month study, |
| available that can treat many conditions. A | | | | it was determined that the two groups that |
| magnetic mattress pad can provide relief from | | | | used magnetic therapy did show improvement in |
| insomnia, joint pain, muscle spasm and | | | | outcome scores of pain intensity level, |
| fibromyalgia. Magnetic insoles can alleviate | | | | number of tender points on the body and |
| painful inflammation resulting from bone | | | | functional status. The other two groups did |
| spurs. Magnetic wraps can be used to relieve | | | | not show the same type of improvement. |
| lower back pain, arthritic joints and | | | | |
| inflamed tendons. Magnetic bracelets can be | | | | Researchers from the Peninsula Medical School |
| used to help with carpal tunnel syndrome. | | | | conducted a magnetic therapy study on 194 |
| There have been studies that indicate that | | | | patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or |
| there are positive benefits to using magnetic | | | | knee. For 12 weeks, these test subjects were |
| therapy. | | | | required to wear either a standard magnetic |
| | | | bracelet, a weak magnetic bracelet, or a |
| At the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, | | | | non-magnetic bracelet. The standard magnetic |
| a double blind study was conducted to | | | | group had a reduction in pain that was not |
| determine the effects of authentic magnetic | | | | matched by the other two groups. The results |
| devices and placebo devices on the knee pain | | | | for the non-magnetic and weak magnet groups |
| of 50 adult patients. The knee pain was | | | | were similar. These results indicate that |
| attributed to the poliovirus they contracted | | | | the magnetic strength of the bracelet is also |
| when they were kids. This study concluded | | | | important. |
| that the 29 patients who used the authentic | | | | |
| magnetic devices had a greater reduction in | | | | But as of today, the U.S. Food and Drug |
| pain than the 21 patients who used the | | | | Administration (FDA) has not yet approved of |
| placebo devices. | | | | magnetic therapy. |
| | | | |