Description of magnetic field therapy for patients with hip and knee problems. The study was conducted in the 1990s on a group of several dozen people in Czechoslovakia.
Aim of the Test
The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of magnetic fields in joint therapy.
Test site and equipment used
The study was conducted in Czechoslovakia in the 1990s. A controller was used for the study along with applicators, named JLM-1 and JLM2.
Scope of the study
Gavlas and Kropacek performed a study involving patients treated for degenerative changes of large peripheral joints, who underwent therapy at the Frantiskovy Laze spa centre. Patients were divided into two groups:
- Research (treated with balneotherapy and PMT: JLM-1, f=3.125 or 6.25 Hz, t=20 min. per day, number of treatments: 12-19)
and - control (balneotherapy and PMT with the equipment switched off).
The control group consisted of 36 women (born between 1900 and 1952) suffering from hip (n=15) and knee (n=22) lesions and 20 men (date of birth between 1910 and 1949). Eight of them had problems with the hip joint and 12 with the knee joint. 31 women and 19 men were overweight.
The research group included 92 women (born between 1909 and 1951, 52 with hip problems and 44 with knee disease) and 46 men (born between 1911 and 1951, 22 with hip problems and 25 with knee disease. In this group, 78 women and 43 men were found to be overweight.
The analysis included taking painkillers (yes/no), subjective perception of improvement and time to walk a distance of 2×30 m with three steps 15 cm high (as this test was conducted outdoors, due to bad weather, not all participants took part). The time of pain relief was recorded by patients and this information was then sent by post.
The effects of the therapy are summarised in tables.
Use of painkillers – men:
| Balneotherapy | Balneotherapy and PMT | |||
| Painkillers | YES | NO | YES | NO |
| Before | 16 (80%) | 4 (20%) | 40 (78%) | 6 (13%) |
| After | 9 (45%) | 11 (55%) | 6 (13%) | 40 (87%) |
Use of painkillers – women:
| Balneotherapy | Balneotherapy and PMT | |||
| Painkillers | YES | NO | YES | NO |
| Before | 32 (88.9%) | 4 (11.1%) | 83 (90.2%) | 9 (9.8%) |
| After | 11 (30.6%) | 25 (69.4%) | 9 (9.8%) | 83 (90.2%) |
Subjective improvement – men:
| No effect | Some improvement | Visible improvement | No discomfort | |
| Balneotherapy | 1 (5.0%) | 8 (40.0%) | 9 (45%) | 2 (10%) |
| Balneotherapy + PMT | 1 (2.2%) | 11 (23.9%) | 25 (54.3%) | 9 (19.6%) |
Subjective improvement – women:
| No effect | Some improvement | Visible improvement | No discomfort | |
| Balneotherapy | 2 (5.6%) | 24 (66.7%) | 10 (27.7%) | 0 |
| Balneotherapy + PMT | 2 (2.1%) | 19 (20.7%) | 52 (56.5%) | 19 (20.7%) |
Improving walking time in men:
| Change at | 0,+4 min | +5, +9 min | 10 min, + |
| Balneotherapy | 4 (50%) | 3 (37.5%) | 1 (12.5%) |
| Balneotherapy + PMT | 10 (35.7%) | 6 (21.4%) | 12 (42.9%) |
Pain-free period in months:
| Men | Women | |||||
| Medium: | SD | N | Medium: | SD | N | |
| Balneotherapy | 8.13 | 2.28 | 8 | 7.11 | 2.71 | 27 |
| Balneotherapy + PMT | 16.33 | 3.82 | 18 | 16.48 | 3.49 | 27 |
| T | 10.77 p < 0.01 | 10.81 p < 0.01 | ||||
Conclusions
A clear difference can be seen between the control group and the research group. Significantly more people in the research group gave up taking painkillers after combined therapy than after balneotherapy in the control group.
The situation was similar for the subjective evaluation.
Also when measuring walking time, there is a clear difference in favour of combined therapy, i.e. balneotherapy and PMT.
Of course, from all the studies carried out (according to the statistics), it is clear that this is an improvement and not a miraculous cure. Degenerative diseases can be treated and thus improve the quality of life of patients. Doing miracles is much more difficult.
