Written by Patrick Massey M.D., Ph.D. Although electromagnets were approved by the FDA in 1979 to accelerate the healing of some bone fractures, their mechanism of action is still unknown.
Americans spend more than $500 million a year on magnets, primarily for the alleviation of pain. Worldwide, billions of dollars are spent on the relief of pain with magnets.
Given their widespread use, it would be valuable to know if magnets really relieve pain or if it is simply a placebo effect. Current medical research on the effectiveness of magnets for pain relief is limited, but encouraging.
Magnets have been used in many cultures as a way to treat pain. People might have noticed that naturally occurring magnets, called lodestones, relieved pain when they were worn or carried. Back in the 4th century, Greek physicians used rings of magnetized metal to treat arthritis. During the Middle Ages, doctors reportedly used lodestones and magnets in the treatment of gout, arthritis and even poisoning. Interestingly, electromagnets were approved by the FDA in 1979 to accelerate the healing of some bone fractures.
Two types of magnets are commonly used for the treatment of pain. These are static magnets, like the common refrigerator magnet, and electromagnets, which are created by using an electrical current.
In the past seven or eight years there have been 15 controlled, clinical trials using both static and electromagnets.
Of nine trials, four did not show significant pain relief with the use of static magnets. However, there were some problems in methodology and standardization of magnet strength. On the other hand, five studies did demonstrate relief of pain.
Studies with electromagnets have been more promising. The majority of studies (five of six) demonstrated some reduction in pain. In the sixth study, although there was no reduction in pain, there was increase in physical functioning.
These seemingly positive results are compromised by the possibility of a strong placebo response. It has been difficult to find a good placebo for a magnet, since participants can easily test the magnetic properties of their experimental device.
In addition, there are other issues with magnet use. The most obvious is, how do they work? There are a number of theories. Magnets might directly affect pain receptors and stimulate acupuncture points or they could increase the local production of natural pain killers. The bottom line is that the mechanism of action is still unknown.
