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ABSTRACT: Objective
To determine the effectiveness of commercially available magnetic bracelets for pain control in osteoarthritis of the hip and knee.Design
Randomised, placebo controlled trial with three parallel groups.Setting
Five rural general practices.Participants
194 men and women aged 45-80 years with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee.Intervention
Wearing a standard strength static bipolar magnetic bracelet, a weak magnetic bracelet, or a non-magnetic (dummy) bracelet for 12 weeks.Main outcome measures
Change in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis lower limb pain scale (WOMAC A) after 12 weeks, with the primary comparison between the standard and dummy groups. Secondary outcomes included changes in WOMAC B and C scales and a visual analogue scale for pain.Results
Mean pain scores were reduced more in the standard magnet group than in the dummy group (mean difference 1.3 points, 95% confidence interval 0.05 to 2.55). Self reported blinding status did not affect the results. The scores for secondary outcome measures were consistent with the WOMAC A scores.Conclusion
Pain from osteoarthritis of the hip and knee decreases when wearing magnetic bracelets. It is uncertain whether this response is due to specific or non-specific (placebo) effects.
SUBMITTER: Harlow T
PROVIDER: S-EPMC535975 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Harlow Tim T Greaves Colin C White Adrian A Brown Liz L Hart Anna A Ernst Edzard E
BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 20041201 7480
<h4>Objective</h4>To determine the effectiveness of commercially available magnetic bracelets for pain control in osteoarthritis of the hip and knee.<h4>Design</h4>Randomised, placebo controlled trial with three parallel groups.<h4>Setting</h4>Five rural general practices.<h4>Participants</h4>194 men and women aged 45-80 years with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee.<h4>Intervention</h4>Wearing a standard strength static bipolar magnetic bracelet, a weak magnetic bracelet, or a non-magnetic (dumm ...[more]