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Trying to Understand the Attraction of Magnets

Alternative treatments for pain are becoming more and more popular, including the use of "static magnet therapy." This type of treatment involves placing magnets directly on painful areas. There isn't much science showing that magnet therapy consistently reduces pain. However, some people swear by this form of treatment. They feel that magnets decrease pain and improve function.
There may be something to static magnet therapy. But how does it work? Do magnets improve blood flow? Or do they somehow affect the nervous system? No one, not even true believers, knows for sure.

This study tested the theory that magnets increase blood flow to the painful area. Twenty healthy young men wore magnets on their forearms for 30 minutes. On another day they wore fake magnets for 30 minutes. They didn't know that some of the magnets were fake. Both times their blood flow and blood pressure was measured. There was no difference in blood flow between using the real or fake magnets.

Static magnet therapy may somehow decrease pain. But if so, it seems clear that it's not because magnets increase blood flow. The authors caution that this study does not rule out the benefits people report when using magnets to ease pain. Nor does it imply that magnets do not have the potential to help with healing. The main findings do show, however, that the benefits are not achieved through increases in blood flow.

References: Gregory F. Martel, PhD, et al. Comparison of Static and Placebo Magnets on Resting Forearm Blood Flow in Young, Healthy Men. In Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. October 2002. Vol. 32. No. 10. Pp. 518-524.

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