A study on the therapeutic effects of magnetic and copper bracelets was published late this summer in Complementary Therapies in Medicine, and the news of its findings has slowly but surely filtered its way into the mainstream media. Unfortunately for the myriad purveyors of magnetic bracelets, necklaces, rings, insoles and other magnet therapy-related paraphernalia, the verdict of the study does not bode well.
Researchers in the Northeast of England conducted a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial to test the effectiveness of a typical “magnetic wrist strap” that has been claimed to reduce pain and stiffness in patients with osteoarthritis. Each participant wore four difference devices over the course of a 16-week period, including a weak magnetic wrist strap, a demagnetized wrist strap and a copper bracelet.
The results? Apparently no difference was observed between the different devices in terms of the effects on the pain suffered by the patients. The researchers concluded that R”[r]eported therapeutic benefits are most likely attributable to non-specific placebo effects”. They did note, however, that “such devices have no major adverse effects and may provide hope”.
I’ve always thought that it is difficult to do a trial on magnetic devices like this, because of the challenge of creating a true placebo option such that the user is not aware of the presence of a magnetic field in the device they are testing. I’m not sure how the researchers in this study overcame that problem.
It’s unlikely that the study will deter those who swear blind that magnet therapy works, but it is good to see scientists doing the legwork on the claims made in these areas…
Sat, Oct 17, 2009
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