Therapeutic effects of magnetic and copper bracelets in osteoarthritis: a randomised placebo-controlled crossover trial

Stewart J. Richmond; Sally R. Brown; Peter D. Campion; Amanda J. L. Porter; Jennifer A. Klaber Moffett; David A. Jackson; Valerie A. Featherstone; Andrew J. Taylor

doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2009.07.002

Therapeutic effects of magnetic and copper bracelets in osteoarthritis: a randomised placebo-controlled crossover trial

Stewart J. Richmond, Sally R. Brown, Peter D. Campion, Amanda J. L. Porter, Jennifer A. Klaber Moffett, David A. Jackson, Valerie A. Featherstone, Andrew J. Taylor

Health Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Objectives: To test the effectiveness of a typical magnetic wrist strap for reducing pain and stiffness, and for improving physical functioning amongst patients with osteoarthritis.

Design: A randomised double-blind placebo-con trotted crossover trial. Each participant wore four devices over a 16-week period.

Setting: Forty five patients with osteoarthritis were recruited from general practices in rural and urban areas of Yorkshire.

Interventions: Experimental device: a commercially available magnetic wrist strap. Control devices: a weak magnetic wrist strap, a demagnetised wrist strap, and a copper bracelet.

Main outcome measures: The WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, the McGill Pain Questionnaire-Pain Rating Index (PRI), a pain visual analogue scale (VAS), and medication use.

Results: No difference was observed between devices in terms of their effects on pain as measured by the primary outcome measure (WOMAC A), the PRI and the VAS. Similar results were obtained for stiffness (WOMAC B), physical function (WOMAC C), and medication use. Further analyses of the PRI subscales revealed a statistically significant difference between devices (P = 0.025), which favoured the experimental device. Participants reported lower sensory pain after wearing the standard magnetic wrist strap, than when wearing control devices. However, no adjustment was made for multiple testing.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that magnetic and copper bracelets are generally ineffective for managing pain, stiffness and physical function in osteoarthritis. Reported therapeutic benefits are most likely attributable to non-specific placebo effects. However such devices have no major adverse effects and may provide hope. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	249-256
Number of pages	8
Journal	Complementary Therapies in Medicine
Volume	17
Issue number	5-6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2009.07.002
Publication status	Published - Oct 2009

Keywords

Magnetics
Copper
Osteoarthritis
Pain
STATIC MAGNETS
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
PAIN
KNEE
ARTHRITIS
RELIEF
HIP

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10.1016/j.ctim.2009.07.002

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229909000569

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@article{27fb369ff53047e899c679457e10f80f,

title = "Therapeutic effects of magnetic and copper bracelets in osteoarthritis: a randomised placebo-controlled crossover trial",

abstract = "Objectives: To test the effectiveness of a typical magnetic wrist strap for reducing pain and stiffness, and for improving physical functioning amongst patients with osteoarthritis.Design: A randomised double-blind placebo-con trotted crossover trial. Each participant wore four devices over a 16-week period.Setting: Forty five patients with osteoarthritis were recruited from general practices in rural and urban areas of Yorkshire.Interventions: Experimental device: a commercially available magnetic wrist strap. Control devices: a weak magnetic wrist strap, a demagnetised wrist strap, and a copper bracelet.Main outcome measures: The WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, the McGill Pain Questionnaire-Pain Rating Index (PRI), a pain visual analogue scale (VAS), and medication use.Results: No difference was observed between devices in terms of their effects on pain as measured by the primary outcome measure (WOMAC A), the PRI and the VAS. Similar results were obtained for stiffness (WOMAC B), physical function (WOMAC C), and medication use. Further analyses of the PRI subscales revealed a statistically significant difference between devices (P = 0.025), which favoured the experimental device. Participants reported lower sensory pain after wearing the standard magnetic wrist strap, than when wearing control devices. However, no adjustment was made for multiple testing.Conclusions: Our results indicate that magnetic and copper bracelets are generally ineffective for managing pain, stiffness and physical function in osteoarthritis. Reported therapeutic benefits are most likely attributable to non-specific placebo effects. However such devices have no major adverse effects and may provide hope. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.",

keywords = "Magnetics, Copper, Osteoarthritis, Pain, STATIC MAGNETS, ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE, PAIN, KNEE, ARTHRITIS, RELIEF, HIP",

author = "Richmond, {Stewart J.} and Brown, {Sally R.} and Campion, {Peter D.} and Porter, {Amanda J. L.} and Moffett, {Jennifer A. Klaber} and Jackson, {David A.} and Featherstone, {Valerie A.} and Taylor, {Andrew J.}",

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doi = "10.1016/j.ctim.2009.07.002",

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T1 - Therapeutic effects of magnetic and copper bracelets in osteoarthritis

T2 - a randomised placebo-controlled crossover trial

AU - Richmond, Stewart J.

AU - Brown, Sally R.

AU - Campion, Peter D.

AU - Porter, Amanda J. L.

AU - Moffett, Jennifer A. Klaber

AU - Jackson, David A.

AU - Featherstone, Valerie A.

AU - Taylor, Andrew J.

PY - 2009/10

Y1 - 2009/10

N2 - Objectives: To test the effectiveness of a typical magnetic wrist strap for reducing pain and stiffness, and for improving physical functioning amongst patients with osteoarthritis.Design: A randomised double-blind placebo-con trotted crossover trial. Each participant wore four devices over a 16-week period.Setting: Forty five patients with osteoarthritis were recruited from general practices in rural and urban areas of Yorkshire.Interventions: Experimental device: a commercially available magnetic wrist strap. Control devices: a weak magnetic wrist strap, a demagnetised wrist strap, and a copper bracelet.Main outcome measures: The WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, the McGill Pain Questionnaire-Pain Rating Index (PRI), a pain visual analogue scale (VAS), and medication use.Results: No difference was observed between devices in terms of their effects on pain as measured by the primary outcome measure (WOMAC A), the PRI and the VAS. Similar results were obtained for stiffness (WOMAC B), physical function (WOMAC C), and medication use. Further analyses of the PRI subscales revealed a statistically significant difference between devices (P = 0.025), which favoured the experimental device. Participants reported lower sensory pain after wearing the standard magnetic wrist strap, than when wearing control devices. However, no adjustment was made for multiple testing.Conclusions: Our results indicate that magnetic and copper bracelets are generally ineffective for managing pain, stiffness and physical function in osteoarthritis. Reported therapeutic benefits are most likely attributable to non-specific placebo effects. However such devices have no major adverse effects and may provide hope. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

AB - Objectives: To test the effectiveness of a typical magnetic wrist strap for reducing pain and stiffness, and for improving physical functioning amongst patients with osteoarthritis.Design: A randomised double-blind placebo-con trotted crossover trial. Each participant wore four devices over a 16-week period.Setting: Forty five patients with osteoarthritis were recruited from general practices in rural and urban areas of Yorkshire.Interventions: Experimental device: a commercially available magnetic wrist strap. Control devices: a weak magnetic wrist strap, a demagnetised wrist strap, and a copper bracelet.Main outcome measures: The WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, the McGill Pain Questionnaire-Pain Rating Index (PRI), a pain visual analogue scale (VAS), and medication use.Results: No difference was observed between devices in terms of their effects on pain as measured by the primary outcome measure (WOMAC A), the PRI and the VAS. Similar results were obtained for stiffness (WOMAC B), physical function (WOMAC C), and medication use. Further analyses of the PRI subscales revealed a statistically significant difference between devices (P = 0.025), which favoured the experimental device. Participants reported lower sensory pain after wearing the standard magnetic wrist strap, than when wearing control devices. However, no adjustment was made for multiple testing.Conclusions: Our results indicate that magnetic and copper bracelets are generally ineffective for managing pain, stiffness and physical function in osteoarthritis. Reported therapeutic benefits are most likely attributable to non-specific placebo effects. However such devices have no major adverse effects and may provide hope. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KW - Magnetics

KW - Copper

KW - Osteoarthritis

KW - Pain

KW - STATIC MAGNETS

KW - ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

KW - PAIN

KW - KNEE

KW - ARTHRITIS

KW - RELIEF

KW - HIP

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DO - 10.1016/j.ctim.2009.07.002

M3 - Article

SN - 0965-2299

VL - 17

SP - 249

EP - 256

JO - Complementary Therapies in Medicine

JF - Complementary Therapies in Medicine

IS - 5-6

ER -

Therapeutic effects of magnetic and copper bracelets in osteoarthritis: a randomised placebo-controlled crossover trial

Abstract

Keywords

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