Wrist magnets, copper bracelets 'ineffective' in relieving arthritis pain.Byline: ANI Washington, Oct 17 (ANI): Copper bracelets and magnetic wristbands are ineffective in relieving the crippling pain of arthritis, experts have claimed. Pain sufferers have long believed in the healing powers of the devices with some wearers thinking the bands will help ward off the degenerative disease in their advancing years. But now scientific research suggests that they have no health benefits. Researchers conducted the first randomised Adj. 1. randomised - set up or distributed in a deliberately random way randomized irregular - contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice; "irregular hiring practices" placebo-controlled trial on the use of both copper bracelets and magnetic wrist straps for pain management in osteoarthritis osteoarthritis or osteoarthrosis or degenerative joint disease Most common joint disorder, afflicting over 80% of those who reach age 70. It does not involve excessive inflammation and may have no symptoms, especially at first. - the most common form of the condition. The research is published in the latest issue of the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine. The trial was led by Stewart Richmond, a Research Fellow in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York This article is about the British university. For the Canadian university, see York University. The University of York is a campus university in York, England. , who said: "This is the first randomised controlled trial controlled trial Clinical research A clinical study in which one group of participants receives an experimental drug while the other receives either a placebo or an approved–'gold standard' therapy. See Blinding, Double-blinded. to indicate that copper bracelets are ineffective for relieving arthritis pain." "It appears that any perceived benefit obtained from wearing a magnetic or copper bracelet can be attributed to psychological placebo effects. People tend to buy them when they are in a lot of pain, then when the pain eases off over time they attribute this to the device. However, our findings suggest that such devices have no real advantage over placebo wrist straps that are not magnetic and do not contain copper. "Although their use is generally harmless, people with osteoarthritis should be especially cautious about spending large sums of money on magnet therapy mag·net therapy n. An alternative medical therapy in which the placement of magnets or magnetic devices on the skin is thought to prevent or treat symptoms of disease, especially pain. . Magnets removed from disused disused Adjective no longer used Adj. 1. disused - no longer in use; "obsolete words" obsolete noncurrent - not current or belonging to the present time disused adj speakers are much cheaper, but you would first have to believe that they could work." The trial involved 45 people aged 50 or over, who were all diagnosed as suffering from osteoarthritis. Each participant wore four devices in a random order over a 16-week period - two wrist straps with differing levels of magnetism, a demagnetised wrist strap and a copper bracelet. The study revealed no meaningful difference between the devices in terms of their effects on pain, stiffness and physical function. (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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