Static Magnetic Field Therapy for Pain
| Author Year Country PEDro Score Research Design Total Sample Size |
Methods | Outcome |
| Panagos et al. 2004
USA Pre-Post N=8 |
Population: Type of pain=nociceptive musculoskeletal shoulder pain.
Treatment: A concentric field type magnet (500 gauss) was placed over one shoulder for 1 hr. Outcome Measures: Short form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ); Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) |
1. On SF-MPQ, pain intensity decreased (p<0.01).
2. Significant decreases also were noted in severity of sharp and stabbing pain, and degree of tenderness (p=0.033, p=0.02, and p=0.021, respectively). 3. Pain intensity on VAS and in response to pressure did not change significantly with magnet application. |
Discussion
Static Magnetic Field (SMF) therapy has been studied as a treatment for pain post SCI. Panagos et al. (2004) in a pre-post study involving eight individuals, on average 12 years post injury, found that placing a static field magnet of 500 gauss over a self-identified ‘trigger point’ resulted in patients reporting less stabbing, sharp and tender pain (p<0.05); however, there was no significant change noted on a VAS pain severity scale. These results are severely limited by the uncontrolled study design and relatively few study participants.
Conclusion
There is level 4 evidence (from one pre-post study: Panagos et al. 2004) that using a static field magnet helps to reduce reports of sharp, stabbing nociceptive shoulder pain but does not significantly reduce the VAS score of pain in individuals with a SCI.
