Clinical Research (Dysmenorrhea)       EFFECTS OF A STATIC MAGNETIC FIELD DEVICE ON MENSTRUAL PAIN: A DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL. Roger Coghill(1), Simon Hails(2), and Christopher Connors(1) (1) Coghill Research Laboratories, Lower Race, Pontypool, Wales NP4 5UH. (2) RSSL, Reading, Berks (Abstract) A placebo-controlled clinical trial of crossover design was conducted among 97 women between 18-45 suffering menstrual pain, of whom 67 reported pain during every menstrual period. Pregnant women, those with endometriosis or using contraceptive medication for pain relief, or had metal implants, were excluded. Participants wore an unbranded magnetic device attached to expose the lower abdomen to static poleface magnetic fields (SMFs) of 210 mT continuously for the five days of one period and to an identical but magnetically inert device during the next period or vice versa, allocated randomly to samples of similar size. Neither the participants nor those allocating them were aware which were the active devices.

Results

Results showed that pain lessened considerably in both groups over the duration of the trial, and also diurnally between morning and evening. A large placebo effect (compared with normal pain levels) was evident (some 48% less subjective pain). Significantly less painkillers were used, however when wearing the active device, and analysis of matched pairs found that significantly less subjective pain intensity was reported by those wearing the active device (p=0.01) than with the placebo.

Though the study design suffered from the absence of an untreated control group, it strongly suggests that attaching SMFs continually during menses can relieve menstrual pain after allowing for a powerful placebo component of the treatment. The range of additional relief, depending on the metric used, varied between 2.6 and 11.2 percent.

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MEDSCAPE

Magnet Therapy May Reduce Disability Related to Chronic Pelvic Pain

By Karla Gale NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jan 10

- Static magnetic field therapy appears to reduce chronic pelvic pain (CCP) and its associated disability, according to results of a small, blinded, placebo-controlled treatment. Dr. Candace S. Brown, of the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, and colleagues followed 32 adult women who had refractory CPP lasting at least 6 months that significantly impaired their function at home or work. The physician on the research team identified two abdominal trigger points on each patient that were most sensitive to palpation, over which active bipolar magnets or sham devices were placed.

Fifteen subjects were randomly assigned to active treatment with 500-gauss magnets, and 17 were assigned to placebo. After 2 weeks of treatment, 8 subjects in the active treatment arm and 11 in the placebo arm elected to continue treatment for 2 more weeks. The study results are published in the December issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

At baseline, the two groups had similar Pain Disability Index (PDI) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores. Likewise, there were no significant differences in McGill Pain Questionnaire scores.

The authors note that differences between groups reached statistical significance after 4 weeks of treatment, a finding that they attribute to a delayed onset of effect.

PDI scores dropped from an average of 37.8 to 23.5 (38%) in the active group and from 41.7 to 40.2 (4%) in the placebo group (p = 0.02). CGI-I scores dropped 43% during active treatment versus 1% during placebo treatment (p = 0.007). CGI-S scores were also significantly more decreased in the active treatment group (p = 0.02).

A drawback to their study was compromised blinding efficacy, Dr. Brown's group notes. Women in the active treatment arm nearly always guessed correctly that they were receiving active treatment, even though all of the women were told at the outset that adherence to metal surfaces was not related to efficacy of the device. About half of those in the placebo group correctly guessed their assignment.

Controlled trials involving more patients with CPP receiving magnetic therapy for longer duration and "evaluation of other chronic pain populations, with and without trigger points, receiving magnetic therapy of varying intensities and treatment duration, is warranted," the research team concludes.

Coauthor Dr. Arthur A. Pilla, of Mt Sinai School of Medicine in New York, said he was one of the original investigators that developed the FDA-approved electromagnetic therapy for bone repair for difficult-to-heal fractures. He told Reuters Health that static magnetic field therapy affects calcium binding to calmodulin, an early event in regulatory cascades, which in turn affects cytokine release.

The current study's design using continuous therapy probably contributed to the delay in relief experienced by patients, Dr. Pilla theorizes. Intermittent exposure would have provided more pain relief, he said, because during continuous wear, the magnets' effectiveness is reduced "because the body starts to accommodate." He also noted that success in the therapy's use depends on obtaining magnets from reputable companies.

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;187:1581-1587.

- The power of nature to soothe and eliminate pain. -

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