Magnet Therapy

Other Names: Aimant, Aimant Statique, Biomagnetism, Biomagnétisme, Bracelet Magnétique, Collier Magnétique, Electromagnetic Therapy, Magnet, Magnetic, Magnetic Bands, Magnetic Bracelet, Magnetic Mattress, Magnetic Necklace, Magnetic Stimulation, Magnetism, Magnétisme, Magnetoterapia, Magnétothérapie, Magnets, Matelas Magnétique, PEMF, PEMT, Pulsed Electromagnetic Therapy, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Therapy, RTMS, RTMT, Static Magnet, Static Magnet Therapy, Stimulation Magnétique, Stimulation Magnétique Transcranienne, Terapia con Campos Magnéticos, Thérapie par Champ Électromagnétique, Thérapie par Champ Électromagnétique Pulsé, Thérapie Électromagnétique, Thérapie Magnétique, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.
Magnet therapy involves applying a magnet to the skin or close to the skin to improve a condition such as pain.

Special Precautions of Magnet Therapy

• Most magnets seem to be safe for most people. In scientific studies, some side effects have been reported including painful menstrual periods, heavier menstrual periods, nausea, diarrhea, and a feeling of “fuzzy headedness.” However, it is unclear whether these side effects are caused by the magnet therapy.
• In some cases magnets are taped to the body. Some tapes can be irritating to the skin, resulting in redness, itching, and discomfort.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of magnet therapy during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
• Epilepsy: There has been some concern that magnet therapy might make people with epilepsy have more seizures. However, there is no reliable evidence to support this. Nevertheless, if you have epilepsy, use caution if you choose to try magnet therapy.
• Pacemaker or implantable defibrillator: If you have a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator, use magnets cautiously. Magnetic mattresses might interfere with these devices and make them work incorrectly. Most other magnets seem to be safe if not placed within 6 inches of the device.

Benefits and uses of Magnet Therapy are

Even though claims that magnetic therapy can treat diseases like cancer and multiple sclerosis are unfounded, there is some evidence that it may help relieve pain related to these chronic conditions:

• Nerve pain caused by diabetes (diabetic neuropathy). Wearing a shoe insole containing a particular strength (450 gauss) magnet seems to significantly reduce symptoms of burning, numbness, tingling, and foot pain caused by exercise. It takes about 3-4 months of treatment to see the benefit.
• Osteoarthritis. Wearing a magnetic bracelet of a particular strength (170-200 Tesla) for 12 weeks significantly improves pain related to osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. Wearing a magnet in a knee sleeve for 4 hours also reduces osteoarthritis-related knee pain. Other research also shows that exposure to a weak magnetic field for 48 minutes per treatment, with 8 treatments over 2 weeks, reduces knee pain significantly.
• Chronic Pelvic Pain : For a 2002 study of 32 women with chronic pelvic pain, one group of patients had active or placebo magnets applied to their abdomens for 24 hours a day. After four weeks of continuous use, those who received the active magnets reported significantly lower pain levels than at the start of the study.
• Fibromyalgia : After six weeks of sleeping on magnetized mattress pads, 13 women with fibromyalgia reported significantly less pain, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and next-day tiredness. A control group of 12 women (who slept on non-magnetized mattresses) had smaller improvements in pain, sleep, fatigue, and tiredness. The study's authors note that improvements in both groups might have been due to use of a better mattress pad.