Static magnetic field therapy for symptomatic diabetic neuropathy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine if constant wearing of multipolar, static magnetic (450G) shoe insoles can reduce neuropathic pain and quality of life (QOL) scores in symptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

DESIGN:

Randomized, placebo-control, parallel study.

SETTING:

Forty-eight centers in 27 states.

PARTICIPANTS:

Three hundred seventy-five subjects with DPN stage II or III were randomly assigned to wear constantly magnetized insoles for 4 months; the placebo group wore similar, unmagnetized device.

INTERVENTION:

Nerve conduction and/or quantified sensory testing were performed serially.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Daily visual analog scale scores for numbness or tingling and burning and QOL issues were tabulated over 4 months. Secondary measures included nerve conduction changes, role of placebo, and safety issues. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and chi-square analysis were performed.

RESULTS:

There were statistically significant reductions during the third and fourth months in burning (mean change for magnet treatment, -12%; for sham, -3%; P<.05, ANCOVA), numbness and tingling (magnet, -10%; sham, +1%; P<.05, ANCOVA), and exercise-induced foot pain (magnet, -12%; sham, -4%; P<.05, ANCOVA). For a subset of patients with baseline severe pain, statistically significant reductions occurred from baseline through the fourth month in numbness and tingling (magnet, -32%; sham, -14%; P<.01, ANOVA) and foot pain (magnet, -41%; sham, -21%; P<.01, ANOVA).

CONCLUSIONS:

Static magnetic fields can penetrate up to 20mm and appear to target the ectopic firing nociceptors in the epidermis and dermis. Analgesic benefits were achieved over time.

• Authors: Michael I Weintraub, Gil I Wolfe, Richard A Barohn, Steven P Cole, Gareth J Parry, Ghazala Hayat, Jeffrey A Cohen, Jeffrey C Page, Mark B Bromberg, Sherwyn L Schwartz, Magnetic Research Group
• Journal: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation (Arch Phys Med Rehabil) Vol. 84 Issue 5 Pg. 736-46 (May 2003) ISSN: 0003-9993 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12736891 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Analysis of Variance
• Diabetic Neuropathies (classification, complications, psychology, therapy)
• Double-Blind Method
• Equipment Design
• Female
• Humans
• Magnetics (instrumentation, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pain (diagnosis, etiology)
• Pain Measurement
• Paresthesia (diagnosis, etiology)
• Quality of Life
• Severity of Illness Index
• Shoes
• Sleep Wake Disorders (diagnosis, etiology)
• Treatment Outcome