Source: British Medical Journal     Released: Wed 15-Dec-2004, 09:50 ET
Embargo expired: Thu 16-Dec-2004, 18:10 ET  
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Magnetic Bracelets Reduce the Pain of Osteoarthritis
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MAGNETIC BRACELETS OSTEOARTHRITIS PAIN  
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Magnetic bracelets reduce pain in osteoarthritis of the hip and knee, finds a
study. Osteoarthritis affects around 760,000 people in the United Kingdom,
producing over 3 million general practice consultations in 2000.  

BMJ 18-25 December 2004 edition

Randomised controlled trial of magnetic bracelets for relieving pain in lower
limb osteoarthritis BMJ Volume 329, pp 1450-4

Newswise — Magnetic bracelets reduce pain in osteoarthritis of the hip and
knee, finds a study in this week's Christmas issue of the BMJ.

Osteoarthritis affects around 760,000 people in the United Kingdom, producing
over 3 million general practice consultations in 2000. Manufacturers of
magnetic bracelets claim that they can reduce pain and worldwide sales were
estimated at £2.6bn ($5bn) in 1999. But evidence about their effectiveness is
contradictory.

Researchers from the Peninsula Medical School recruited 194 patients aged 45-80
years with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee from five rural general practices
in Devon. Patients wore either a standard strength magnetic bracelet, a weak
magnetic bracelet, or a non-magnetic (dummy) bracelet for 12 weeks. Changes in
pain were recorded using a recognised pain scoring scale.

They found a significant reduction in pain scores between the standard and
dummy magnet groups. The results for the weak magnet group were similar to
those of the dummy magnets, and this suggests that the magnetic strength of the
bracelet is important.

The authors emphasise that the benefits are in addition to existing treatments,
which should not be suddenly stopped without discussion with their doctor. Also
they note that high strength magnets (170mTesla or more) seem to be needed.

Although factors such as use of painkillers and patients' beliefs about the
type of bracelet they were testing did not affect the results, the authors
cannot be certain whether their findings are due to a specific effect of
magnets or a placebo effect. But, whatever the mechanism, the benefit from
magnetic bracelets seems clinically useful.

The (one-off) cost of bracelets (around £30-£50 or $58-$96), also compares
well with that of painkillers, such as paracetamol and anti-inflammatory drugs,
and larger investigations should now test the safety of magnets relative to the
well-known risks of these drugs, they add.

Further work is also needed to replicate these findings and determine whether
the effect extends beyond 12 weeks, they conclude.

Click here to view full paper:
http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/december/ip1450.pdf

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