Magnet therapy (an energy therapy Energy Medicine Five categories of complementary or alternative medicine are generally recognized: Whole medical systems Mind-body medicine Biologically based practices not usually used in conventional medicine... read more ) utilizes static magnetic fields (constant fields produced by permanent magnets) or pulsed electromagnetic fields (intermittent magnetic fields produced by an electromagnet). Practitioners place magnets on the body or place injured body parts in an induced electrical field to reduce pain or enhance healing. (See also Overview of Integrative, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine Overview of Integrative, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine Integrative medicine and health (IMH) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) include healing approaches and therapies that historically have not been included in conventional, mainstream... read more .)
Evidence and Uses
Magnets, in particular, are a popular treatment for musculoskeletal disorders and neuropathic pain, although data on effectiveness are mixed.
For static magnetic therapy, systematic reviews found no benefit for chronic pain and neck pain (1 References Magnet therapy (an energy therapy) utilizes static magnetic fields (constant fields produced by permanent magnets) or pulsed electromagnetic fields (intermittent magnetic fields produced by... read more ), and high-quality studies found no benefit for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (2 References Magnet therapy (an energy therapy) utilizes static magnetic fields (constant fields produced by permanent magnets) or pulsed electromagnetic fields (intermittent magnetic fields produced by... read more ).
The biologic effect of pulsed electromagnetic therapy is significantly different from that of static magnetic. Some evidence suggests that pulsed electromagnetic therapy may relieve pain. One meta-analysis found relief of neuropathic pain with use of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (3 References Magnet therapy (an energy therapy) utilizes static magnetic fields (constant fields produced by permanent magnets) or pulsed electromagnetic fields (intermittent magnetic fields produced by... read more ). Another study showed improvement in physical function, but not pain or stiffness, in knee osteoarthritis (4 References Magnet therapy (an energy therapy) utilizes static magnetic fields (constant fields produced by permanent magnets) or pulsed electromagnetic fields (intermittent magnetic fields produced by... read more ). Using pulsed electromagnetic fields to speed healing of nonunion fractures is well established.
Possible Contraindications
Possible contraindications for magnets include pregnancy (effects on the fetus are unknown) and use of implanted cardiac devices, an insulin pump, or a drug given by patch.
References
1. Kroeling P, Gross A, Graham N, et al: Electrotherapy for neck pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(8):CD004251, 2013. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004251.pub5. PMID: 23979926.
2. Pittler MH, Brown EM, Ernst E: Static magnets for reducing pain: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. CMAJ 177(7):736–42, 2007.
3. Jin Y, Xing G, Li G, et al: High frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy for chronic neuropathic pain: a meta-analysis. Pain Physician18(6):E1029-46, 2015.
4. Chen L, Duan X, Xing F, et al: Effects of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on pain, stiffness and physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Rehabil Med 16;51(11):821-827, 2019. doi: 10.2340/16501977-2613
