Pulsed magnetic field besides stimulation of collagen synthesis, acceleration of bone healing and treatment of osteoporosis may also be used as a method for treating migraines.
Abstract
The aim of the study was to examine the influence of the magnetic field on the treatment of migraine. 30 patients were subjected to the study and randomly assigned to the study group and the placebo group. The study lasted for two weeks. The study group was subjected to therapy 3 times a week for 30 minutes. The results were recorded within four months after performed treatments. The magnetic field parameters were as follows: induction between 4-5 mT, frequency – 10 Hz and rectangular field shape.
It turned out that in the study group significantly decreased the number of days with migraine attacks, duration of the attack, the number of days of absence from work and the amount of taken analgesics. Whereas there was no change in the pain intensity during the migraine attack.
Aims
Migraine is a difficult to treat chronic headache, which causes great disability. Pulsating magnetic field is an effective therapeutic agent but with poor clinical documentation. This type of clinical study was conducted for the first time.
The researchers set themselves the following tasks:
- To evaluate the placebo effect of magnetic field in the treatment of migraines by examining study and placebo groups at six therapy sessions
- To examine a long-term effect of the magnetic field in the treatment of migraines after twelve sessions and four-month observation period
Method
Thirty patients were divided into two groups:
- 16 patients (15 women and 1 man) in the study group
- 14 patients (12 women, 2 men) in the placebo group
It was a randomized, parallel-group, observer-blinded study. The study assumption was to carry out the registration of a migraine diary within two-week therapy with the indication on frequency, duration, intensity of pain, the number of hours of absence from work and the amount of painkillers.
Unit Magner Plus manufactured by ASTAR ABR sj was used to perform treatments. Magnetic field used in the study had rectangular field shape with a frequency of 10Hz and induction of 4-5 mT. The treatment lasted for 30 minutes and was performed three times a week. The participants recorded all observations throughout the duration of therapy. The study group was also subjected to additional treatments for next 2 weeks and patients were obliged to record observations for 4 months.
- The graph shows the following results:
- Average duration
- Migraine frequency
- Pain intensity
- Number of hours of absence from work
- Amount of taken analgesics
Conclusions
The study showed the effectiveness of the magnetic field with particular parameters (induction 4-5 mT, frequency-10 Hz and rectangular field shape) in the migraine prophylaxis. It turned out that in the study group significantly decreased the number of days with migraine attacks, duration of the attack, the number of days of absence from work and the amount of taken analgesics. Whereas there was no change in the pain intensity during the migraine attack.
Literature
Goadsby PJ, Hargreaves Refractory migraine and chronic migraine pathophysiological mechanism, Headache, 2008:48(9):1399-405 Vincent W. Andreasik F. Sherman R. Headache Treatment with Pulsing Electromagnetic Fields.
