There are many arthritic patients and sufferers in pain that use magnets. Some are very certain that the magnets they are using are a great help.

There are no large controlled clinical trials to evaluate the benefits of magnets on arthritis.

Doctors in general do not think they work to relieve pain in arthritis. There are, however, amazing anecdotal evidence. There are stories that seem too good to be true.

A friend of mind, Steve, has severe back problems. He has a prolapsed intervertebral disc.
He could not stand for long and often made his journey to the toilet on all fours. After a MRI scan and other tests, his orthopaedic Surgeon told him he needed surgery.

A friend introduced him to magnotherapy. He placed a powerful booster magnet directly over the prolapsed disc. Within a week he was up and about. Today he wears a magnetic bracelet and although his disc is still out, he can do most things with care.

Experts think that a magnet placed over an artery will improve the oxygen carrying capacity of blood. This encourages faster healing. This theory is used in horse racing. Injured horses are fitted with magnets to speed up recovery and get them back on the track in the quickest time possible.

The most recent trial results showed that there was no real benefit from using a magnetic bracelets. The only benefits were placebo effect. The proponents argue that the improvements in animals confirm the benefits are not just placebo. They site circumstances where animals have made significant improvements after a magnet was fitted. A dog that needed to be lifted up unto the back of the car was able to leap in after having a magnetic collar, and many more similar stories.

Magnets are safe to use. The drugs that are used to help control pain and stiffness in arthritis come with risks. Often with magnets from a reputable company you get your money back within a specified time. If it does not work send it back.

The new alloy deodymium magnets retain their magnetic properties for 100 years. So one magnet will last a like time as long as you do not lose it.

Trial Results.

Here is a brief summary of a trial result published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Randomized controlled trial of magnetic bracelets for relieving pain in osteoarthritis of the hip and knee.

Tim Harlow, Colin Greaves, Adrian White, Liz Brown, Anna Hart, Edzard Ernst

BMJ 2004;329 (18 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7480.0-b

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of commercially available magnetic bracelets for pain control in osteoarthritis of the hip and knee.

Design: Randomized, placebo controlled trial with three parallel groups.

Setting: Five rural general practices.

Participants: 194 men and women aged 45-80 years with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee.

Intervention: Wearing a standard strength static bipolar magnetic bracelet, a weak magnetic bracelet, or a non-magnetic (dummy) bracelet for 12 weeks.

Main outcome measures: Change in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis lower limb pain scale  (WOMAC A) after 12 weeks, with the primary comparison between the standard and dummy groups. Secondary outcomes included changes in WOMAC B and C scales and a visual analogue scale for pain.

Results: Mean pain scores were reduced more in the standard magnet group than in the dummy group (mean difference 1.3 points, 95% confidence interval 0.05 to 2.55). Self reported blinding status did not affect the results. The scores for secondary outcome measures were consistent with the WOMAC A scores.

Conclusion Pain from osteoarthritis of the hip and knee decreases when wearing magnetic bracelets. It is uncertain whether this response is due to specific or non-specific (placebo) effects.

Dr. Phil Hariram,

Arthritis Guide.