Arthritis Bracelet: What's The Verdict?

There are several ways with which to treat arthritis and nowadays, these include the use of certain gadgets or objects outside of the body, supposedly to effect relief through absorption or the use of some unseen but naturally occurring forces. 

Such is the case with the arthritis bracelet, commonly promoted as the alternative to the more conventional arthritis treatments.  Sometimes, manufacturers even go so far as to claim that their bracelets can actually replace traditional therapies.  Let's take a look at the two most common arthritis bracelet components: magnets and copper.

Magnets and Magnetic Therapy

Magnets have been around for hundreds of years and their use to treat ailments is nothing new.  In ancient Greece, lodestones were believed to have therapeutic powers.  For the last 10 years or so, magnets have steadily gained popularity, thanks to their documented, if controversial use in professional sports.  Today, magnetic bracelets are often sold as an alternative therapy for arthritis.

How It's Supposed to Work

It is theorized that magnetic fields coming from magnetic bracelets penetrate the body and improve the functions of organs, tissue and the nervous system.  It is still unclear how magnets are supposed to do this, although some practitioners claim that magnetic fields are capable of interrupting pain signals and increase the flow of blood in a specific area.  This in turn increases the amount of oxygen in that area, which results to a decrease in pain and inflammation.

Using magnet to treat pain is more popular than you think.  In fact, there are practitioners and bodyworkers who specialize in the administration of magnet therapy.  As arthritis bracelets, however, magnets remain unproven and whatever findings that have been associated with the effect of magnets to arthritic pain are still preliminary and unsubstantiated.  Some people also believe that as arthritis bracelets, magnets may seem to work because they weigh down the joint and limit its movement.

A similar device was marketed as an electro-polarized bracelet, whose manufacturers claimed that it can combat pain by promoting a balance of both positive and negative energies in the body, which help relieve pain associated with arthritis and other conditions.  The sale of these bracelets was ordered stopped by the FTC after complaints against their ineffectiveness and the manufacturer's deceptive claims were filed.

So What's the Verdict?

There is still no research or controlled clinical study that can rightfully claim that magnetic bracelets can relieve arthritis pain or any other types of pain, for that matter.  Whatever studies or research are available also have conflicting results...