Study shows magnetic bracelets actually provide pain relief!
@doc_alma_jones (822)
Philippines
January 30, 2011 11:24pm CST
Yes, I almost couldn't believe it. I never believed that magnets could provide some semblance of comfort for people suffering from pain, but a study proved otherwise!
According to an article I read at http://www.naturalpainremedies.blogspot.com, a study was conducted to determine if magnetic bracelets are a farce. All participants in the study were divided into three study groups. The first group was given magnetic bracelets while the third group was given non magnetic bracelets. All groups were unaware as to which bracelets they received.
The first group (the one wearing magnetic bracelets) had more functional improvement than the third group.
It has been theorized that if the magnetic bracelets did work, perhaps their effect was psychological. However, based on this study, the non-magnetic bracelets worn by the third group did not bring about any improvement in function. So this kind of negates the theory that magnetic bracelets provide a placebo effect.
What do you think? Read more of the study here: http://www.naturalpainremedies.blogspot.com/2011/01/research-shows-magnetic-bracelets.html. :)
1 person likes this
11 responses
@acevivx (1566)
• Philippines
31 Jan 11
Well, one thing to consider is the integrity of the study. that is..how can one be sure that indeed there was a genuine study conducted in the sense that it was not just orchestrated to appear as though the groups were indeed not parties to an attempt to present a favorable conclusion in order to drum up sales for those companies who are into the business of manufacturing and selling magnetic bracelets. The web is replete with reports on studies allegedly conducted on certain products or testimonies as to the effectiveness of health foods or gadgets and so forth which later turn out to be not so credible. But if indeed magnetic bracelets are effective then it would be a boon to pain sufferers who have to buy the same.
@magenn (78)
•
31 Jan 11
Yes thats what I thought before its only a promotion from a company that manufacture such kind of bracelet because there are so many people suffer pain especially olds with arthritis instead taking many kind of pills so they easily convinced. But I said to myself why some says its ok cause I asked some olds if its really ok or effective so maybe effective to some and not to some.
@acevivx (1566)
• Philippines
1 Feb 11
Yeah that's quite possible that it is effective for some and not for others depending on their body chemistry but i think that for some others, it just has a placebo effect. what is important is that they are relieved from pain which i guess is the main objective.
@sizzle3000 (3036)
• United States
31 Jan 11
They actually do work. I bought a magnetic braclet in Cherokee, North Carolina a few years back for my husband. He wore for about a day and he said that he could really feel a difference in his wrist. I think that you have to beleive it works for it to really work and half of it is the magnets. Besides if can have magnetic poles in the earth why can't magnets pull out pain too.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
2 Feb 11
I cannot vouch for the article and the study it describes. Personally I have never worn magnetic jewellery for pain relief so I cannot sing its praises either! My sister in law suffers from bad neck pain and swears by her magnetic bracelet. I don’t know if in her case it is psychological considering that the pain is in her neck and she is wearing a bracelet and not a necklace! I told my sister in law that if she’s had positive results from her bracelet she may as well keep on wearing placebo effect or not!
@mermaidivy (15395)
• United States
31 Jan 11
Oh really? I think I might check it out because my neck pain, back pain has been bothering me for a very long time... it doesn't matter I exercise or not, it just hurts...
@rog0322 (2829)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
31 Jan 11
Hi doc,
I'm not really sold out to the idea of magnetic healing. Magnetic forces don't really affect human tissues for only metallic substances are reactive to it. In fact, not all metals has magnetic properties or are attracted to magnetic forces.
How on earth could magnetic lines of force affect living tissues is beyond me. Gravitational forces, maybe, up to a certain point, in accordance with Newtonian Laws. I'd rather go for traditional remedies such as herbs and meditations. Works all the time.
@magneto2011 (112)
• Philippines
1 Feb 11
Well, the assessment of rogo322 is primarily based on the standard of science (physics in particular) and the flow of thinking is very logical. Offhand, I have a similar a view on the matter (as scientific claims are more reliable than any other), but I don't totally discount the possibility that it might work in some cases. That is why it is good to inquire about it from the magnetic bracelet users to hear their testimonies as regards the effectiveness or non-effectiveness of the same.
Sometimes, things work in mysterious ways that science fails to explain. It is one good development in relation to health if indeed magnetic bracelet can provide a healing and soothing effect to various types of pain. I don't believe it does for now - I need concrete evidence to such claim.
At the moment, I'm using herbs to minor illnesses like cough and cold. I'm also starting to get interested in TETADA KALIMASADA exercises.
@loveandpeace (470)
• Indonesia
1 Feb 11
At first I doubt those magnetic bracelets can work, my sister used one and she didn't get any result. After that I read that magnetic bracelet only have placebo effect, it didn't really work. And now in your topic here, they say it works. I'm confuse, but I know I won't look for magnetic bracelet to cure my pain.
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
31 Jan 11
I just don't know how reliable this study is.
If they wore it for 3 months who's to say that they didn't test if their bracelets were magnetic or not? If they did check, then this could still be a placebo effect.
And this is just worded weird:
"After the study, the researchers found out that the second group of bracelets (the ones with a weaker magnetic strength) were “contaminated”. Their strengths were found to be a lot more than their expected strengths. However, both the first and third groups were unaffected."
So...this means that they didn't even give the people the right strength of magnets??
It kinda makes me think that they were careless and I wonder just how accurate this information is.
I have wondered for a long time whether those magnets really work, but I haven't found sufficient evidence either way. If they do work, that is really awesome, but frankly, I don't really see why they would work.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
31 Jan 11
Hi doc_alma_jones,
Practically I have been suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis since 2008 and was on the bed for 8 months. I tried almost everything from Ayurveda to Yoga from Magnetic Bracelets to acupressure and nothing worked.
I cannot say anything about the authenticity of their data or findings as FOR ME this just did not work and I consider it useless and a waste.
But yes, I would keep visiting that blog to find out if their contact page gets working so that I can ask them about other things of interest like blood pressure control - I tried magnetic necklace long back and it did work good for me. Unfortunately now they are not available locally here.
@Catana (735)
• United States
31 Jan 11
The placebo effect is very powerful, and recent studies have shown that it can be as helpful as actual medication. If you believe something is going to make you feel better, it probably will. And the more desperate you are to find relief, the stronger your belief. At least until the problem is bad enough for the pain or other symptoms to return.
Studies like the one that supposedly proved the effectiveness of magnetic bracelets are almost always found to be flawed in some way. Either the researchers haven't set up the study properly or they're actually being paid by or are at least supported by the company that makes the product. The chances are probably 100% that this study will be disproved, if it hasn't already.
@magenn (78)
•
31 Jan 11
Hi.... I got interested of what you have said. It seems that you believe that magnetic bracelet provides pain relief,right? I heared this before many times especially olds and I saw them using it especially there in the Philippines but I don't gave more attentions cause I thought its only a promotion from some business woman/man. How I wish this is true. I don't mean that you are wrong what I mean is I hope it provides pain relief and What kind of pain? Is it all pains?. Cause for me I prefer this than taking pain pills I hate taking pills. What kind of bracelet and where we can get this?
