General Obstetrics and Gynecology Gynecology
Efficacy of static magnetic field therapy in chronic pelvic pain: A double-blind pilot study,☆☆

Presented at the Forty-eighth Annual Meeting of the American College of Obstetrician Gynecologists, May 2000.
https://doi.org/10.1067/mob.2002.128026Get rights and content

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of static magnetic field therapy for the treatment of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) by measuring changes in pain relief and disability. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-two patients with CPP completed 2 weeks and 19 patients completed 4 weeks of randomized double-blind placebo-controlled treatment at a gynecology clinic. Active (500 G) or placebo magnets were applied to abdominal trigger points for 24 hour per day. The McGill Pain Questionnaire, Pain Disability Index, and Clinical Global Impressions Scale were outcome measures. RESULTS: Patients receiving active magnets who completed 4 weeks of double-blind treatment had significantly lower Pain Disability Index (P <.05), Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (P <.05), and Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement (P <.01) scores than those receiving placebo magnets, but were more likely to correctly identify their treatment (P <.05). CONCLUSION: SMF therapy significantly improves disability and may reduce pain when active magnets are worn continuously for 4 weeks in patients with CPP, but blinding efficacy is compromised. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;187:1581-7.)

Section snippets

Material and methods

Forty women from a university-based obstetrics and gynecology clinic who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. All patients gave written informed consent that was approved by the institutional review board. Subjects were between ages 18 and 50 years; were diagnosed by a gynecologist with CPP according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) criteria15 (duration of 6 months or longer, persistent pain despite current treatment, significantly

Results

Of the 40 women who were screened for the study, 33 met eligibility criteria and entered single-blind treatment. Thirty-three continued to meet eligibility criteria after single-blind treatment and were randomly selected for double-blind treatment. One subject assigned to the active treatment group was lost to follow-up after single-blind treatment. Fifteen subjects receiving active magnets and 17 subjects receiving placebo magnets completed 2 weeks of double-blind treatment. Nineteen subjects

Comment

The results of this randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial show that SMF therapy with bipolar magnets of ±500 G intensity significantly improve disability and may reduce pain when worn continuously for 4 weeks in women with CPP. We found a 22% reduction in pain intensity in patients with CPP wearing active magnets compared with 6% in those wearing sham magnets. The percent improvement was comparable to other studies demonstrating significant findings. Both Colbert et al9 and Alfano

References (23)

  • AP Colbert et al.

    Magnetic mattress pad use in patients with fibromyalgia: A randomized double-blind pilot study

    J Back Musculoskeletal Rehabil

    (1999)
  • Cited by (85)

    • Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in Dogs

      2015, Handbook of Veterinary Pain Management: Third Edition
    • Magnetotherapy in hand osteoarthritis: A pilot trial

      2013, Complementary Therapies in Medicine
      Citation Excerpt :

      A Cochrane review published in 2011 also evaluated eighteen randomized controlled studies and they concluded that electrotherapy including magnetotherapy, especially pulsed electromagnetic field was possibly better than placebo to relieve pain in myofasial and chronic neck pain.15 In vivo, electromagnetic field has been shown to significantly reduce pain levels in patients suffering from a number of diseases.16–24 This led to the hypothesis that the beneficial effects of electromagnetic field could be achieved by regulating inflammatory immune processes.

    View all citing articles on Scopus

    Supported by the University of Tennessee Center for Women's Health Improvement and BIOflex Medical Magnets.

    ☆☆

    Reprint requests: Candace Brown, PharmD, 9685 US Highway 70, Lakeland, TN 38002. E-mail: [email protected]

    View full text