Magnets and severity of OA--Is there a corelation?
Dr. Abhijit Bhosale MBBS, M S (Orth); DNB (Orth); MNAMS
Research Fellow
Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
Oswestry
21st December 2004
To
The Editor
BMJ
Sub:- Magnetic Bracelets for relieving pain in osteoarthritis of hip
and knee.
Dear sir,
I read with interest an article called “ Randomised controlled trial
of magnetic bracelets for relieving pain in osteoarthritis of the hip and
knee” by Tim Harlow et al published in BMJ—18-25 December 2004 issue( pg.
1450-54).
It is interesting that such therapeutic measures which are considered as
an imerical therapies can actually have a real good impact on the disease
process.
But the article doesn’t highlight few things, which need to be addressed
a)What was grade of osteoarthritis of these patients, when they entered
the trial?
b)How long these patients had the symptoms before the study? How many
were newly diagnosed of having OA?
c)Did the author ask the patients to refrain from all other
medications like pain-killers while during the trial?
d)Ryser L et al (1)had pointed out in their study that in WOMAC
score, patients with pain and functional problems were unable to
distinguish between the two variables. Did the authors considered this
fact?
e)How long patients were using mangnet in a day?
f)Is it synergistic to use other modalities along with magnets?
I appreciate the study, but it’s interesting to know whether it is
effective only in early osteoarthritis and that in advanced arthritis if
it could be used synergistically with other modalities of treatment.
(1) Ryser L, Wright BD, Aeschlimann A, Mariacher-Gehler S, Stuckig
(1999): A new look at Western Ontario and McMaster Universities
osteoarthitis index using Rasch analysis; Arthritis care Res 12: 331-35.
Rapid Response:
Magnets and severity of OA--Is there a corelation?
Dr. Abhijit Bhosale MBBS, M S (Orth); DNB (Orth); MNAMS
Research Fellow
Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
Oswestry
21st December 2004
To
The Editor
BMJ
Sub:- Magnetic Bracelets for relieving pain in osteoarthritis of hip
and knee.
Dear sir,
I read with interest an article called “ Randomised controlled trial
of magnetic bracelets for relieving pain in osteoarthritis of the hip and
knee” by Tim Harlow et al published in BMJ—18-25 December 2004 issue( pg.
1450-54).
It is interesting that such therapeutic measures which are considered as
an imerical therapies can actually have a real good impact on the disease
process.
But the article doesn’t highlight few things, which need to be addressed
a)What was grade of osteoarthritis of these patients, when they entered
the trial?
b)How long these patients had the symptoms before the study? How many
were newly diagnosed of having OA?
c)Did the author ask the patients to refrain from all other
medications like pain-killers while during the trial?
d)Ryser L et al (1)had pointed out in their study that in WOMAC
score, patients with pain and functional problems were unable to
distinguish between the two variables. Did the authors considered this
fact?
e)How long patients were using mangnet in a day?
f)Is it synergistic to use other modalities along with magnets?
I appreciate the study, but it’s interesting to know whether it is
effective only in early osteoarthritis and that in advanced arthritis if
it could be used synergistically with other modalities of treatment.
(1) Ryser L, Wright BD, Aeschlimann A, Mariacher-Gehler S, Stuckig
(1999): A new look at Western Ontario and McMaster Universities
osteoarthitis index using Rasch analysis; Arthritis care Res 12: 331-35.
Kind regards.
Yours’ Sincerely,
Dr.Abhijit Bhosale
Research Fellow, RJAH, Oswestry
25 Twmpath Lane, Gobowen Oswestry SY10 7AQ
Ph:- 01691-404110
Cell:- 07951 770706
e-mail: drabhijitbhosale@yahoo.com
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests