Magnetic Arthritis Therapy

According to the Arthritis Foundation, 46 million adults and 300,000 children in the United States currently suffer from arthritis. Arthritis is defined as an inflammation or swelling of the joints. Most commonly arthritis is developed through the aging process or repetitive movements of the joints. Arthritis can range from mild to severe, and can cause enough pain to debilitate the person suffering from the problem. There are a few different options for treating arthritis. One of those treatment options is magnetic therapy.

What Is It?

1. Magnetic therapy has a history that dates as far back as the sixteenth century when it was used as a cure all for a host of different reasons, ranging from diarrhea to anti-aging. Today most magnetic therapy treatment is used for disorders that reduce the circulation within the body. Magnetic therapy consists of placing magnets on specific areas of the body in hopes that the magnetic properties will help relieve pain or even help heal damage done to the body.

Process

2. To use magnetic therapy for arthritis, the patient places bands around the affected joints. Inside these bands are small magnets. The bands are then left on the joints throughout the day. This process is repeated until the pain in the joints has been relieved.

How It Works

3. The theory behind magnetic therapy is that the properties of the magnet activate the positive and negative particles in the blood stream. Once these particles become activated they are believed to speed up the flow of blood throughout the area the magnets have been applied to. Magnetic therapy supporters believe that this increases the blood flow to the arthritis affected joints. The magnets do this by the heat created by the particles in the blood as they are activated in the area. The heat helps to dilate the blood vessels in the area. The magnets are also believed to affect the iron in the blood, increasing the ability of the blood to transport oxygen to the arthritis affected area. This helps to relieve the swelling and pain associated with arthritis sufferers.

FDA Monitoring

4. Magnetic therapy is strictly watched over by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is largely because the makers of the therapy devices promote them as medical devices to be used in the treatment of a medical disorder. What this means to you as the consumer is that the FDA reviews all arthritis magnetic therapy devices before they can be sold on the market. This gives you some assurance that the device will not harm you as long as it is used in the way that the FDA has approved it to be used.

Controversy

5. Like any alternative medical treatment, magnetic therapy is not without its controversy. This is largely due to the fact that there is little to no research behind the actual benefits of this mode of therapy. Scientific studies by both the Consumers Union and Baylor College of Medicine both found little benefit in using magnetic therapy to treat arthritis pain. However, there is still enough interest in the alternative treatment that a one million dollar grant was afforded to the University of Virginia to continue the research into what benefits magnets offer to those suffering from arthritis and back pain.

source from : eHow.com

How to Treat Arthritis With Magnetic Therapy

Arthritis afflicts many people of all ages and there is no known cure. Magnetic therapy has been used for centuries to help alleviate the pain associated with this ailment. Learn more to determine whether magnetic therapy can relieve your arthritis pain.

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Discuss this alternative form of therapy with your personal physician. He or she will probably recommend you use magnetic therapy in conjunction with other treatment, including drugs and supplements.

2. Step 2

   Obtain magnetic straps to place around areas where arthritis pain is concentrated, such as your knees, wrists, elbows, back, hips and neck.

3. Step 3

   Use magnetic jewelry, such as bracelets, necklaces and earrings, to help alleviate arthritis pain.

4. Step 4

   Place small individual magnetic patches over sensitive areas, such as fingers and toes.

5. Step 5

   Purchase magnetic insoles to create a foot-to-knee magnetic field. Insoles with bumps can also massage your feet. Follow wearing instructions to accustom your feet to them.

6. Step 6

   Sleep on magnetic therapy mattress pads, pillows and covers for an effect that lasts up to 16 hours from the time you arise.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep magnetic therapy items from direct contact with computer disks and credit cards. The electro-magnetic field can wipe out information from these magnetic storage devices.
• Magnetic therapy is not recommended if you are pregnant or use a pacemaker or other electro-medical devices.
• Magnetic therapy products can cause a wind-up watch to malfunction.