Pain causes many arthritis sufferers to seek new treatments. Some are driven to look for odd or extreme alternatives for pain relief. Recently, there was a rise in magnetic straps and bracelets as a pain reliever for arthritis patients. Essentially, these magnetic straps are supposed to increase blood flow or cause an increase in our natural painkillers. These straps are generally considered safe and a natural way to alleviate the pain. In a New York Times article the author points delves into this new-found popularity with the magnetic straps and bracelets.
While many people may claim the magnetic bracelets and straps help them, there have many studies to look at their effectiveness. As this article points out, there is little evidence that these bracelets provide any type of benefit. One study claimed they couldn’t exclude the evidence of the magnetic therapy, but more research was needed. Another study claims there is no effectiveness to this type of therapy.
So with these claims of no real benefit by numerous studies, why do arthritis patients continue to buy these bracelets? Is it a type of placebo effect where patients buy the bracelets and they feel better just thinking that the magnet is helping out? While these studies point out the lack of benefit for arthritis, I think this just shows that arthritis patients are willing to use anything to help with the pain.
I am convinced that magnetic therapies are that of pseudo-scientific rubbish, but I can see why people would initially try them. Since a magnetic field can influence a moving ion and red blood cells have heme groups with an iron ion, perhaps magnetic therapy can affect blood flow? Hemoglobin has even been shown to be weakly diamagnetic (creates a field opposite of the one it feels). Unfortunately, studies have shown that magnetic fields required to have any change in blood flow are much greater than those created by simple magnets. For example, an MRI machine (uses very powerful magnets) doesn't even have the strength to produce a change.
ReplyDeleteA systematic review was conducted in 2008 to review all major magnetic therapies and it concluded that no evidence was found for the claims of pain-relief, except for the possibility of osteoarthritis. The reason the review had an exception for osteoarthritis was from the lack of sound testing techniques. Studies that were currently available on osteoarthritis and magnetic therapy were plagued with the inability to keep the subjects and testers "blinded". If a wrist strap, for example, was to be worn to help with arthritis of the wrist, it would be easily determined if it was actually magnetic due to it's interaction with most daily metal objects. Therefore, objectivity was compromised and the power of the placebo effect skewed most test results. Fortunately, a study in 2009 with sound design concluded that magnetic therapy was ineffective at reducing pain, stiffness, and restoring function in osteoarthritis.
Magnetism is vary mysterious to most people who don't understand it (which is really everyone... even with a solid ground in quantum physics), and I can perfectly see why people would think it might have extra "powers". Besides, arthritis hurts. What's there to lose by simply putting on a small wrist band and trying it out? Even though I believe magnetic therapy is nonsense, I do believe the power of placebo is intense!
(Studies mentioned above available at request).
I agree that the power of placebos is huge. People buy Zymosine and other supplements to help with the pain, and whether or not they actually work doesn't matter as long as people think they work (at least of a while). What I find more interesting are weight loss pills, which if you don't lose weight then it's hard to pretend that the numbers on the scale are changing. Yet, people still buy them! When people get magnetic bracelets and herbal supplements for their ailments, I think it is a more of a study in psychology than physiology.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sierra & John, the power of placebo is sometimes very strong. Personally, I dont like to take pills unless I absolutely have to and feel like if an alternative exists like magnets and it helps alleviate symptoms,even if its mind over matter than more power to you!
ReplyDeleteI have also heard about placebo gastric bypass surgery, where patients undergo anesthesia and surgery however they dont receive the actual bypass. Patients are blind to whether or not they received the bypass thus they adopt the bypass diet, greatly reduce there food intake, I believe they intake is about 1 ounce per meal and they have major weight loss.
I agree with the previous posts. We've seen in many of the articles that we've discussed in class that people are willing to go to extremes to help with pain. They may swear by this "new" technique, but it may be solely a placebo effect. Like Sierra said, I think these need to go into more of a psychological study instead of a physiological study.
ReplyDeleteIn response to SierraC495 - although diet pills are shown to be non-effective, don't forget that they are PACKED with amphetamines. They can help you exercise harder and longer, resulting in weight-loss, but the user still has to work out to lose weight. Do not confuse harmless placebos, like magnetic arthritis therapy or supplements like EmergenC, with potentially harmful and even deadly placebo-drugs like diet pills. Not all placebos are created equal. Some give you peace of mind and can reduce your intake of more harmful pain medications (I'd put magnetic bracelets here) while others can have serious long-term consequences with minimal benefits.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that not only are there the magnetic bracelets and necklaces but there are other items for people to purchase that are supposed to help with stamina, endurance, and quality of life. For example, NCAA players have been using LifeWave patches to help avoid fatigue and maintain stamina during games. Personally I have used them and have felt the difference when using them as when I haven’t. With the LiveWave patches I was able to play at the highest level I could for a longer period of time and when finishing playing it did not take me as long to recover from the game. My father sold them and went to many conventions and learned about how the patches worked. With LifeWave you are to place the white patch just lateral of your right patella and the brown patch at the same placement on your left. LifeWave uses the positive and negative charges of our bodies to align them correctly to enhance and maintain stamina and endurance while exerting a large amount of energy. I find it interesting that many products might actually use the charges of our bodies to help improve our quality of life and how some are just a placebo effect. Other than the magnetic bracelets/necklaces and LifeWave do you know any other products use this same idea of magnetic charges?
ReplyDeleteHey Kayla,
ReplyDeleteI think those LifeWave conventions your dad went to tried to pull a fast one over him =D. There is no such thing as "aligning" charges correctly, so I assume they meant neutralizing charges? Even though this is largely impossible, neutralizing charges would result in death since most cells rely on built up membrane potentials and the transfer of electricity. So, I respectfully doubt those products do anything with "charges". Furthermore, there are no other products that use "magnetic charges" since they haven't been discovered =). A magnetic charge would be a magnetic monopole, which is thought to exist hypothetically by superstring theory and other particle physics theories, but there hasn't been any evidence of their existence yet. So, if a product used "magnetic charges" they would surely get the Nobel prize!!
However, your claims are very interesting pertaining to LiveWave and I had to learn more. I looked at LiveWave's website for a while and read through their research and explanation of claims, but I find that their physiology is flawed and their research is very weak and biased (most funded by either the company or organizations with vested interest). I think I am sounding condescending, so I want to say that I am not trying to offend. I wish that you play at your peak performance all the time, and I wish your dad the best of luck and hope he sells millions!!!
I think this is yet another example of the strength of a placebo, never underestimate it!
I too agree with the placebo effect points brought up by the others for the magnet-based therapies.
ReplyDeleteI was trying to think of other examples and came up with "SeaBands" for motion sickness. It turns out these are not actually a magnet-based therapy, but an acupressure therapy. Again, I was thinking placebo-effect all the way, however there was a Cochrane Reviw performed in 2006 which revealed a role for acupuncture-point stimulation for post-operative nausea and vomiting suggesting a "biologic effect of acupuncture-point stimulation." Other studies have showed a similar positive effect when compared with placebo in subjects with chemotherapy-induced and pregnancy-related nasuea and vomiting.
Now, what the "biologic effect" truly is, is another question...
References:
Ezzo JM, et al. Acupuncture-point stimulation for chemotherapy-induced nausea or vomiting. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;(2):CD002285.
It is interesting to read that there are also magnetic creams that patients can use. I was on a website and it was humorous to see how they were quoting football players and claiming that these creams can relieve all types of pain.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.magneticare.net/products-cream.html
So here is the question; If this pseudo-scientific therapy is providing patients with even a moderate improvement in symptomology, how faux-medical is it really? I think things like this, including the Q-ray bracelets from back in the day are interesting in that their efficacy is only in the mind of the patient.
ReplyDeleteSome parallels could be drawn to religion... but that's a conversation for a different blog. ;)
I agree with Sierra and John as well. The mind, a powerful tool, is a well-known prankster with respect to the placebo effect. It is remarkable to read how people allegedly "felt" a difference once they wore the magnetic jewelry. Honestly, I am not convinced the bracelets align and coordinate the release of internal natural painkillers nor do I believe they alleviate an arthritic patient's pain. This is not to completely exclude the study of magnetism, as I feel it could potentially be viable, nor am I to say their pain was not actually less after wearing the bracelet, but I do agree with the article when it said more clinical research needed to be conducted. I, too, believe this is a case of the placebo effect and the relief patients experience is more than likely psychological. I think it is highly possible that those with arthritis wearing those bracelets/bands claimed to experience alleviation strictly because they believed the magnets were helping them (in response to the question Christina posed in the blog).
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine was once seeking adderall so he could spend his whole night studying for an exam. None of his friends wanted to actually give him an adderall, so one of them filled a capsule with table sugar and gave that to him instead. Due to the placebo effect, my friend felt more awake and focused than ever and studied all night. He never knew he was not on adderall, although he "felt" like he was, until his friend told him otherwise.
We will believe whatever it is we want -- but is this necessarily a bad thing under all circumstances? Who are we to tell patients they do not actually feel better when they say they do? I have read in holistic medicine (as my mother is a great fan) a positive and optimistic mind may prolong a life or lessen the severity of pain in patients. Sometimes people experiencing great pain will go to all measures to feel better and if something as harmless as a magnetic bracelet make YOU feel better, by all means, wear it.