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