Epilepsy & Behavior. 2001;2,S74-S80
McLean MJ, Engstrom S, Holcomb RR
Static Magnetic Fields for the Treatment of Pain
Therapeutic magnets constructed with permanent magnets that generate static magnetic fields have gained popularity in recent years. Federal authorities in the United States do not currently regulate sales. The marketed devices are not FDA approved. Nonetheless, there is a body of published data that supports potential therapeutic utility of static magnetic field–generating devices. This body of knowledge is critically reviewed here.
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Bioelectromagnetics. 2002 Sep;23(6):475-9
Engstrom S, Markov MS, McLean MJ, Holcomb RR, Markov MM
Effects of Non Uniform Static Magnetic Fields on the Rate of Myosin Phosphorylation
The MagnaBlocTM magnetic therapeutic device [Holcomb, 1994; Source: Amway Corporation, Ada, MI] is clinically successful in reducing various forms of pain: wrist pain, lower back pain [Holcomb et al., 1991], and arthritic knee pain [Segal et al., 2001]. The device consists of four NdFeB permanent magnets arranged with alternating polarities in a 2 2 array (Fig. 1). There is some understanding of the biological mechanisms at the cellular level from studies of action potential blockade [McLean et al., 1995], as well as cell swelling [McLean et al., 2000], but the physical mechanism underlying these observations remains elusive. Myosin phosphorylation as a tool to study biological effects initiated by magnetic fields was pioneered by Shuvalova et al. [1991].
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Bioelectromagnetics. 1995;16(3):197-206.
Cavopol AV, Wamil AW, Holcomb RR, McLean MJ
Measurement and Analysis of Static Magnetic Fields That Block Action Potentials in Cultured Neurons
Electrically stimulated action potentials of adult mouse sensory neurons in cell culture were blocked to a large extent when the neuron was positioned in a static magnetic field of -11 mT intensity produced by an array of four permanent magnets of alternating polarity [McLean et al., 1991,1995]. In the original experiments, the magnitude of this biological effect depended on positioning of the neuron under study in the field (changes in vertical distance of cell from the array), on array parameters (e.g., action potential blockade decreased with increasing distance between magnets in the array), and on the number and polarity of the magnets in the array.
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Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2001 Oct;82(10):1453-60
Segal NA, Yoshitaka T, Huston J, Saeki Y, Shimizu M, Fuchs H, Shimaoka Y, Holcomb RR, McLean MJ
Two Configurations of Static Magnetic Fields for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Knee: A Double-Blind Clinical Trial
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA) is a disabling disease that limits patients’ mobility, hampers work, and reduces patients’ quality of life. Joint pain and inflammation, as well as patients’ and physicians’ assessment of disease activity and physical functioning, are used as indices of the effectiveness of treatments. Pharmacologic agents commonly used in the treatment of RA are often costly, and possess numerous potentially toxic side effects that limit their use with many patients.
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Bioelectromagnetics. 1995;16(1):20-32
McLean MJ, Holcomb RR, Wamil AW, Pickett JD, Cavopol AV.
BLOCKADE OF SENSORY NEURON ACTION POTENTIALS BY A STATIC MAGNETIC FIELD in the 10 mT RANGE
Variable effects of static magnetic fields on electrophysiological properties of neural tissue have been reported. A 660 mT field reduced spontaneous firing of action potentials of cockroach subesophageal ganglion neurons (Sittler, 1966). The amplitude of the compound action potential of frog sciatic nerve increased in a perpendicular, but not a parallel, field of 100-712 mT (Edelman et al., 1979).
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Environmental Medicine. 1991;8:36-45
McLean MJ, Holcomb RR, Wamil AW, Pickett JD.
EFFECTS OF STEADY MAGNETIC FIELDS ON ACTION POTENTIALS OF SENSORY NEURONS IN VITRO
Exposure to a static field (10 milliTesla) produced by an array of four permanent magnets of alternating polarity (side, facing neuron under study) reduced or blocked action potential (AP) firing by adult mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons in monolayer disassociated cell culture. The effect was reversible with slow recovery of firing over several minutes.
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2001
Segal NA, Huston J, Fuchs H, Holcomb RR, McLean MJ.
EFFICACY OF A STATIC MAGNETIC DEVICE AGAINST KNEE PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIS
In this study, we examined the efficacy of treatment with a static magnetic field generator as adjunctive therapy for the joint pain in patients with inflammatory arthritis.
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Pediatric Neurology. 2000 Sep;23(3):261-4.
Holconb RR, Worthington WB, McCullough BA, McLean MJ.
Static Magnetic Field Therapy for Pain in the Abdomen and Genitals
Two adolescents with debilitating, medication-resistant, chronic pain of the low back and abdomen with intermittent pain of the genitalia were diagnosed with intervertebral disk disease at spinal cord levels that correlated with their signs. Both patients had undergone multiple evaluations by physicians of different specialties and both underwent appendectomy without relief of their pain.
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Environmental Medicine. 1991;8:24-30
Holcomb RR, Parker RA, Harrison MS.
BIOMAGNETICS IN THE TREATMENT OF HUMAN PAIN - PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE
A 2x2 randomized double-blind cross-over study was done to assess the efficacy of the Magna Bloc in reducing low back and knee pain in 54 patients at two centers. The Magna Bloc is a magnetic treatment device which contains a quadripolar permanent magnet system. Pain was assessed using visual analog scale, ranging from zero (no pain) to 100 (maximal pain). Prior to any treatment the average pain rating was 52.9.