Magnetic Bracelets Cut Osteoarthritis
Pain - Study
Fri Dec 17, 2004 10:06 AM ET
LONDON (Reuters) - Magnetic bracelets can help to ease the pain
of osteoarthritis of the hip and knee, British researchers said
on Friday.
In a study of nearly 200 sufferers of the joint disease,
patients who wore a standard-strength magnetic bracelet reported
having less pain than those who wore weaker or non-magnetic
bracelets for 12 weeks.
"We found evidence of a beneficial effect of magnetic wrist
bracelets on the pain of osteoarthritis of the hip and knee,"
Professor Edzard Ernst, of the Peninsula Medical School in
Plymouth, southern England, said in a report in the British
Medical Journal.
Although the results are consistent with previous studies
that analyzed magnetic therapy, the scientists said they did not
know whether the reported improvement was due to the bracelet,
the placebo effect, a believed benefit from a treatment that has
no effect, or both.
"Whatever the mechanism, the benefit from
magnetic bracelets
seems clinically useful," Ernst and his colleagues added.
The patients wearing the higher strength magnetic bracelets
reported the biggest improvement, which the scientists said
suggested the magnetic strength is important. The benefits were
in addition to improvements from standard treatments for the
illness.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, which is
a leading cause of disability. It can affect any joint in the
body but is common in the knees and hips. Pain in a joint after
inactivity, swelling and stiffness are symptoms. There is no
cure but treatments can reduce pain and maintain movement.
Magnet therapy products and magnetic bracelets for natural pain relief of arthritis, back pain and fibromyalgia.
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