Does Magnet Strength Matter?
In magnetic health therapy, the magnet strength plays a significant factor in maximizing pain relief. A study published in the Journal of American Medical Association revealed that permanent magnets with an approximate strength of 300 gauss had no effect on patients with chronic low back pain (these participants had been experiencing back pain for 19 years).
The author who conducted this study, Dr. Edward Collacott, M.D., commented that "a stronger magnet may be necessary to penetrate to the source of chronic low back pain." He also stated that "this may explain the lack of beneficial effect from the magnets used (300 Gauss)."
This study suggests therapy magnets with a low gauss rating produce a magnetic field that is too weak to penetrate through thick muscle areas such as the low back region. Essentially, weak therapy magnets will have no health benefit. So if you are experiencing pain or discomfort in your back, hip or thigh, the best results in seeing pain relief is by using a strong magnet.
Another study in magnetic health therapy was conducted at 2 academic institutions. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study coordinated by the Universities of Purdue and Indiana revealed that weak magnets had no effect on pain and recovery of muscle soreness. The specifics of this study are as follows: participants were given magnetic armbands. The brand used was Nikken. Each armband contained 3 magnetic disks and was placed over the forearm muscles. Each magnetic disk measured slightly over 1 ½ inches in diameter and had a 750 gauss rating. The study did not clarify if this measurement reflected the “internal gauss rating” or the “surface gauss rating” of the magnet.
Participants were asked to perform certain exercises of the arm that would produce general soreness of the forearm muscles. At the completion of this task, the participants kept the magnetic armbands on their forearms for 7 consecutive days without removal – except when bathing. At the end of the clinical trial, it was revealed that the magnetic armband did not decrease the pain of muscle soreness nor did it speed up the recovery time.
It’s important to understand that the researchers used a magnetic armband that consisted of weak magnets in this study. It’s not surprising that the magnetic field generated from theses magnets did not penetrate effectively down to the area of pain and injury. As always, the rule of thumb for achieving maximum penetration and depth is by using strong magnets. In addition, placing a therapy magnet directly on the skin surface would have produced a stronger magnetic field as compared to using an armband.
At Life Magnets, we are proud to offer high grade, therapy magnets that provide deep penetration to maximize pain relief. This is the key to achieving optimal health benefits.
The author who conducted this study, Dr. Edward Collacott, M.D., commented that "a stronger magnet may be necessary to penetrate to the source of chronic low back pain." He also stated that "this may explain the lack of beneficial effect from the magnets used (300 Gauss)."
This study suggests therapy magnets with a low gauss rating produce a magnetic field that is too weak to penetrate through thick muscle areas such as the low back region. Essentially, weak therapy magnets will have no health benefit. So if you are experiencing pain or discomfort in your back, hip or thigh, the best results in seeing pain relief is by using a strong magnet.
Another study in magnetic health therapy was conducted at 2 academic institutions. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study coordinated by the Universities of Purdue and Indiana revealed that weak magnets had no effect on pain and recovery of muscle soreness. The specifics of this study are as follows: participants were given magnetic armbands. The brand used was Nikken. Each armband contained 3 magnetic disks and was placed over the forearm muscles. Each magnetic disk measured slightly over 1 ½ inches in diameter and had a 750 gauss rating. The study did not clarify if this measurement reflected the “internal gauss rating” or the “surface gauss rating” of the magnet.
Participants were asked to perform certain exercises of the arm that would produce general soreness of the forearm muscles. At the completion of this task, the participants kept the magnetic armbands on their forearms for 7 consecutive days without removal – except when bathing. At the end of the clinical trial, it was revealed that the magnetic armband did not decrease the pain of muscle soreness nor did it speed up the recovery time.
It’s important to understand that the researchers used a magnetic armband that consisted of weak magnets in this study. It’s not surprising that the magnetic field generated from theses magnets did not penetrate effectively down to the area of pain and injury. As always, the rule of thumb for achieving maximum penetration and depth is by using strong magnets. In addition, placing a therapy magnet directly on the skin surface would have produced a stronger magnetic field as compared to using an armband.
At Life Magnets, we are proud to offer high grade, therapy magnets that provide deep penetration to maximize pain relief. This is the key to achieving optimal health benefits.
