e for Rehabilitation Research in Houston, Texas. Before the magnetic therapy, patients graded their pain on a scale of 0 to 10 (10 being the worst pain). The magnet (or ineffective magnet, depending on the group) was placed over the trigger point of the painful area. The researchers used magnets with an intensity of 300 to 500 gauss (G), and were 1.75 cm by 0.50 cm wide, and 1.5 mm thick dimensionally. After a 45-minute period wearing the magnet (or placebo), they graded their pain a second time. Patients with the placebo magnet averaged a starting pain of 9.5 and ended with a pain of 8.4 (+/- 1.6 points, p *0.005). Patients with the active magnet averaged a starting pain of 9.6 and ended with a pain of 4.4 (+/- 3.1, p *0.0001). This double-blind study successfully showed that there was a significant reduction of pain after a 45-minute period of magnet use. The patients in the active-device group reported a pain score decrease by 76%, while there was only a 19% decrease in pain score for the placebo-device group."We cannot explain the significant and quick pain relief reported by our study patients. The effect could result from a local or direct change in pain receptors, but it is also possible that there was an indirect central response in pain perception at the cerebral cortical or subcortical areas, or a change in the release of enkephalins at the reticular system. If the fields have an impact on the subcortical level of the brain, it is possible that the application of one magnetic device in one painful area may benefit to a greater or lesser extent the pain elicited in other trigger points. This is an issue that requires further study" (Vallbona, et al. p. 1202).The researchers of the Baylor study also decided that there were specific issues that need to be explored through new studies. Some of these points that are still yet to be understood include dose-response to pain relief, the effect of the simultaneous application o...
