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Effects of a Concentric Rare-Earth Magnet on Menstrual Cycle Pain: A Parallel Group Randomized Pilot Study

Background Based on prior reports of the use of magnets to treat pain, our goal was to determine if a concentric rare-earth alternating-pole magnet reduced period pain versus a sham-magnet.  Methods Participants were females (N=36, 18 to 35 years) who regularly experienced menstrual period pain ≥ si...

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Autores principales: Mayrovitz, Harvey, Milo, Brittany, Alexander, Brooke, Mastropasqua, Marisa, Moparthi, Yashaswani
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Cureus 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7894227/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33628670
http://dx.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.12801
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author Mayrovitz, Harvey
Milo, Brittany
Alexander, Brooke
Mastropasqua, Marisa
Moparthi, Yashaswani
author_facet Mayrovitz, Harvey
Milo, Brittany
Alexander, Brooke
Mastropasqua, Marisa
Moparthi, Yashaswani
author_sort Mayrovitz, Harvey
collection PubMed
description Background Based on prior reports of the use of magnets to treat pain, our goal was to determine if a concentric rare-earth alternating-pole magnet reduced period pain versus a sham-magnet.  Methods Participants were females (N=36, 18 to 35 years) who regularly experienced menstrual period pain ≥ six on the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) of 0-10. Subjects were excluded if they took pain medication on the study day or had implanted pacemakers/metallic devices or secondary dysmenorrhea. Participants were randomized to wear a concentric neodymium-iron boron active-magnet (surface-field of 0.4 Tesla) or a sham magnet. The participant and investigator applying the device were blinded to the device used. The device was placed at the abdominal location of the reported greatest pain for 40-minutes, during which time the subject was able to conduct the normal activity. Pain scores were reported prior to device wearing and afterward. Participants with post-treatment NPRS ratings reduced by ≥ 35% from their pretreatment pain ratings were scored as having reduced pain; reductions < 35% were scored as no meaningful pain change. The threshold of 35% was chosen based on a survey of 10 women as to the level of pain reduction they viewed as meaningful to them. Of the 36 women in this pilot study, 19 wore an active-magnet and 17 wore a sham-magnet. Analyses were based on chi-square and Mann-Whitney statistical tests. Results  Pre-treatment pain scores (mean ± SD) were similar for both groups. Magnet-vs-sham pre-treatment scores were, respectively, 7.16 ± 0.85 vs. 6.94 ± 1.20 (p=0.330). Corresponding median values for the magnet (N=19) and sham (N=17) groups respectively were seven pre-treatment and four post-treatment vs. six pre-treatment and six post-treatment. Post-treatment scores for magnet treated subjects (4.16 ± 2.20) were significantly less (p=0.027) than for sham-treated (5.53 ± 1.50). Of the 19 who wore a magnet, 11 experienced meaningful pain-reduction, and eight did not. Of the 17 who wore a sham, three experienced meaningful pain-reduction, and 14 did not. Magnet and sham wearing responses were statistically significant via chi-square analysis (chi-square=6.12, p=0.013). Percentage reduction in pain score was 41.8% ± 31.1% for magnet-treated vs. 20.8% ± 16.1%, for sham-treated (p<0.05). Conclusions Results suggest that short-term wearing of the magnet herein investigated, produces a meaningful menstrual-pain reduction in some women. Thus, further expanded research seems warranted to determine if longer wearing times result in even greater pain reductions. 
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spelling pubmed-78942272021-02-23 Effects of a Concentric Rare-Earth Magnet on Menstrual Cycle Pain: A Parallel Group Randomized Pilot Study Mayrovitz, Harvey Milo, Brittany Alexander, Brooke Mastropasqua, Marisa Moparthi, Yashaswani Cureus Obstetrics/Gynecology Background Based on prior reports of the use of magnets to treat pain, our goal was to determine if a concentric rare-earth alternating-pole magnet reduced period pain versus a sham-magnet.  Methods Participants were females (N=36, 18 to 35 years) who regularly experienced menstrual period pain ≥ six on the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) of 0-10. Subjects were excluded if they took pain medication on the study day or had implanted pacemakers/metallic devices or secondary dysmenorrhea. Participants were randomized to wear a concentric neodymium-iron boron active-magnet (surface-field of 0.4 Tesla) or a sham magnet. The participant and investigator applying the device were blinded to the device used. The device was placed at the abdominal location of the reported greatest pain for 40-minutes, during which time the subject was able to conduct the normal activity. Pain scores were reported prior to device wearing and afterward. Participants with post-treatment NPRS ratings reduced by ≥ 35% from their pretreatment pain ratings were scored as having reduced pain; reductions < 35% were scored as no meaningful pain change. The threshold of 35% was chosen based on a survey of 10 women as to the level of pain reduction they viewed as meaningful to them. Of the 36 women in this pilot study, 19 wore an active-magnet and 17 wore a sham-magnet. Analyses were based on chi-square and Mann-Whitney statistical tests. Results  Pre-treatment pain scores (mean ± SD) were similar for both groups. Magnet-vs-sham pre-treatment scores were, respectively, 7.16 ± 0.85 vs. 6.94 ± 1.20 (p=0.330). Corresponding median values for the magnet (N=19) and sham (N=17) groups respectively were seven pre-treatment and four post-treatment vs. six pre-treatment and six post-treatment. Post-treatment scores for magnet treated subjects (4.16 ± 2.20) were significantly less (p=0.027) than for sham-treated (5.53 ± 1.50). Of the 19 who wore a magnet, 11 experienced meaningful pain-reduction, and eight did not. Of the 17 who wore a sham, three experienced meaningful pain-reduction, and 14 did not. Magnet and sham wearing responses were statistically significant via chi-square analysis (chi-square=6.12, p=0.013). Percentage reduction in pain score was 41.8% ± 31.1% for magnet-treated vs. 20.8% ± 16.1%, for sham-treated (p<0.05). Conclusions Results suggest that short-term wearing of the magnet herein investigated, produces a meaningful menstrual-pain reduction in some women. Thus, further expanded research seems warranted to determine if longer wearing times result in even greater pain reductions.  Cureus 2021-01-20 /pmc/articles/PMC7894227/ /pubmed/33628670 http://dx.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.12801 Text en Copyright © 2021, Mayrovitz et al. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
spellingShingle Obstetrics/Gynecology
Mayrovitz, Harvey
Milo, Brittany
Alexander, Brooke
Mastropasqua, Marisa
Moparthi, Yashaswani
Effects of a Concentric Rare-Earth Magnet on Menstrual Cycle Pain: A Parallel Group Randomized Pilot Study
title Effects of a Concentric Rare-Earth Magnet on Menstrual Cycle Pain: A Parallel Group Randomized Pilot Study
title_full Effects of a Concentric Rare-Earth Magnet on Menstrual Cycle Pain: A Parallel Group Randomized Pilot Study
title_fullStr Effects of a Concentric Rare-Earth Magnet on Menstrual Cycle Pain: A Parallel Group Randomized Pilot Study
title_full_unstemmed Effects of a Concentric Rare-Earth Magnet on Menstrual Cycle Pain: A Parallel Group Randomized Pilot Study
title_short Effects of a Concentric Rare-Earth Magnet on Menstrual Cycle Pain: A Parallel Group Randomized Pilot Study
title_sort effects of a concentric rare-earth magnet on menstrual cycle pain: a parallel group randomized pilot study
topic Obstetrics/Gynecology
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7894227/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33628670
http://dx.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.12801
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