Are magnetic bracelets harmful or helpful?

Question

My mother insists I use one for my tendonitis, but I was just wondering if there is anything harmful about these things? It just seems weird.

Answer 1

Neither harmful nor helpful. Tests have shown no particular affect:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2002/11/13/magneticbracelets_021113.html

http://www.ucgc.org/faq/copper-bracelets/default.htm

Answer 2

There's nothing harmful about wearing a magnetic bracelet, nor is there anything harmful about exposing yourself to magnetic fields--this very planet has its own magnetic field, as is witnessed by anyone who's ever used a compass.

The idea behind magnetic therapy is that placing magnets of a certain polarity over an injured or problematic area is that it will increase the bloodflow to that area, and thereby speed the healing process. The logic is flawed in that blood isn't magnetic; if it were, and exposure would increase bloodflow in a given area, you'd be serriously injured while obtaining an MRI scan. While it is true that blood contains iron, there's only a trace amount present--blood is actually just over 90% water, which doesn't respond at all to magnetic fields.

For those who claim to achieve any sort of benifit from using magnetic devices, there is an explaination that's pretty well documented in the pharmaceutical industry and is known as the "placebo effect." A placebo is a product known not to carry any sort of medicinal properties that is sometimes given in place of a new drug that's being studied. It goes something like this: Group A is given the new drug, Group B is given a placebo. Neither group knows for sure what they're being given, so that the results can remain objective. (This is refered to as a "double-blind study.") Oftentimes, the group recieving the placebo will report having some benifit--although the percentage is usually very small. Some people simply want to see results, and will fool themselves into thinking that there's an undeniable benifit to what they're taking... even though their medical condition hasn't changed, and the "medication" they were given was nothing more than a sugar pill.

There is no proven benifit to using magnetic devices. However, there's also no documented cases where such a device causes any harm.

Answer 3

The effect could be real or down to the individual's faith in the treatment.

As far as I know, cooper and zinc don't increase circulation, and, even if they could, wearing a bracelet would not cause significant amounts to be absorbed into the body.

Also, high strength magnets (170mTesla or more) seemed to be needed to have any effect on pain.

The idea that magnets "restore the body's energy flow" doesn't sound right. (It might be interesting to ask how the alleged "energy" is measured.)

Answer 4

They don't do anything because they aren't strong enough magnets to affect deep into your tissues.

Answer 5

they have helped me but watch out near computers, the screen can go out of whack

Answer 6

ehpls as wierd as it seems alot of people with joint and muscle pain use it and it helps, native americans used it as a part of their medicine, nothing is harmful about it give it a try you might actually realize that your mother is right

Answer 7

Neither. They have no effect whatsoever.