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