Folklore remedies for pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis
include the application of magnets and copper to the skin. Despite the
popular use of devices containing magnets or copper for this purpose,
little research has been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of such
treatments.
Objective
To
investigate whether the practice of wearing magnetic wrists straps, or
copper bracelets, offers any specific therapeutic benefit for patients
with rheumatoid arthritis.
Design
Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial.
Methods
70
patients, aged 33 to 79 years and predominantly female (n = 52), with
painful rheumatoid arthritis were recruited from general practices
within Yorkshire. Participants were randomly allocated to wear four
devices in a different order. Devices tested were: a standard (1502 to
2365 gauss) magnetic wrist strap, a demagnetised (<20 gauss) wrist
strap, an attenuated (250 to 350 gauss) magnetic wrist strap, and a
copper bracelet. Devices were each worn for five weeks, with treatment
phases being separated by one week wash-out periods. The primary outcome
measured was pain using a 100 mm visual analogue scale. Secondary pain
measures were the McGill Pain Questionnaire and tender joint count.
Inflammation was assessed using C-reactive protein and plasma viscosity
blood tests and by swollen joint count. Physical function was assessed
using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (Disability Index). Disease
activity and medication use was also measured.
Results
65
participants provided complete self-report outcome data for all
devices, four participants provided partial data. Analysis of treatment
outcomes did not reveal any statistically significant differences
(P>0.05) between the four devices in terms of their effects on pain,
inflammation, physical function, disease activity, or medication use.
Principal findings
The
results of this trial indicate that participants with rheumatoid
arthritis obtained little if any specific therapeutic benefit from
magnet therapy, involving the use of a 2200 gauss magnetic wrist strap
for just over one month. The experimental wrist strap, which was typical
of other commonly available devices as regards its magnetic properties
and method of application, did not appear to outperform: (a) a very weak
(300 gauss) magnetic wrist strap; (b) a non-magnetic wrist strap; or
(c) a copper bracelet. Whilst estimated 95% confidence intervals for the
individual comparison of experimental and control devices indicate that
use of the standard magnetic wrist strap may have resulted in a modest
reduction in pain, equivalent to 12 mm on a 100 mm pain VAS, they also
indicate the possibility that use of this device may have resulted in a
slight increase in pain. Despite such uncertainty, these differences may
be viewed as small in terms of potential clinical relevance, and
further results obtained for secondary pain measures failed to indicate
any analgesic benefit whatsoever resulting from magnet therapy. No
overall statistically significant differences were found between
experimental and control devices for the primary pain outcome measure
(i.e. pain VAS), the McGill Pain Questionnaire, self-assessed measures
of tender and swollen joints, disease activity status, physical
function, feelings of helplessness, or for two different blood tests
used for monitoring levels of acute phase reactants as indicators of
bodily inflammation, even when controlling for medication use, local
rather than systemic inflammation, and non-compliance. Similarly, we did
not observe any evidence, of statistical significance or likely
clinical importance, to suggest superiority of the copper bracelet over
other control devices.
Conclusions
Wearing
a magnetic wrist strap or a copper bracelet did not appear to have any
meaningful therapeutic effect, beyond that of a placebo, for alleviating
symptoms and combating disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.
