What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive and chronic disease that affects the joints of an individual. This means that the disease is both present and worsening throughout time.¹ Versus Arthritis UK estimated in 2023 that 10 million people in the UK have OA.² It is considered the most common form of arthritis and colloquially known as wear-and-tear of the joints.³

It is a disease that can affect any of the joints in the body and the tissue around it by causing inflammation which results in results in restriction of the joint's mobility and pain.⁴

Epidemiology - how common is it?

The most common population in which OA is seen is individuals over the age of 50. They tend to show more of the described symptoms which can be attributed to an overuse of the joints and other comorbidities such as diabetes and obesity. The loss of musculature and higher weight bearing on the joints can cause the degradation of the structure in the joints and result in inflammation, which eventually leads to the symptoms of OA.⁵

Symptoms

The primary symptom seen is aching from the affected joint, where a lack of mobility arises due to the inflammation inside the joint. Due to the inflammation, the joint has a reduced range of motion which is noticeable after periods of inactivity.⁶

Individuals with OA may hear popping sounds from the affected joint, especially in the morning after waking. The inflammation can radiate a weakness into the muscles surrounding the joint, causing a weakness around the area. This can then cause buckling of the joint and further aggravate the pain.¹

Treatment options

There is no cure for OA but it can be managed to perform daily activities, stay mobile, and experience a good quality of life. Due to the disease appearing in an elderly population, operative solutions are usually not recommended and other therapies are explored.

The main 2 categories of treatment fall under pharmaceutical interventions in the form of pain management and lifestyle management.⁷ 

Pain management

The use of pharmaceutical agents to manage pain can be in the form of pain medication, also known as analgesics or painkillers. These drugs will help in reducing the overall pain, but will not tackle the source specifically.⁷

To target the inflammation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used. These can reduce the inflammation in the joints which in turn can bring down the swelling and immobilisation of the joint.²

There are also over-the-counter drugs called counterirritants which can stimulate the nervous system to distract the individual from the joint pain. The counterirritants provide a cold or warm sensation to the body which eases the focus on the pain caused by OA.⁸ 

Movement therapy

Apart from medications, there are also lifestyle changes that can help alleviate the symptoms of OA. All of them revolve around the idea of decreasing the stress that the affected joints undergo.³

One method is strength training which involves resistance workouts, in other words, training with more than body weight. This form of therapy bases itself on the idea that by increasing the muscle capacity around the affected joints, the area can cope better with daily stress. If the muscles around the joint get stronger, there is a high likelihood that the tendons around the joint are also getting stronger.⁷

What is magnetic therapy?

Magnetic therapy (MT) also known as magnetic field therapy or magnetic resonance therapy is a form of treatment that uses a weak magnetic field to interact with the target area to stimulate the cells and increase blood flow.⁹ This form of therapy has been popularized for a variety of issues such as migraines, depression, and diseases connected to inflammation. 

The magnets that are used emit a weak magnetic field, which can travel through fabric and tissue to target the desired area. This makes it a non-invasive technique and therefore quite desirable. It can also be a low-cost alternative to other therapies as the magnets can be worn close to the affected joint in the form of a bracelet or a brace.¹⁰ 

Although MT has been classified as pseudoscience (factual but not backed by research findings), it has brought forward many individual experiences that show it might be beneficial. 

Types of magnetic therapy

There are distinctly two types of MT available, from which other types of therapies stem from. The most common form of MT is static magnetic field therapy. This type of MT is performed by using a static magnet, which are metals that always have a consistent magnetic field. The magnet can be placed near the joint affected by OA by either being wrapped in a brace or as a bracelet.¹¹

The other form of MT is electrically charged magnetic therapy (also known as electromagnetic therapy, or EMT). EMT uses metals that have an electric current passed through them, which acts as a solenoid and produces a magnetic field.¹¹ These magnets can change the intensity and strength of the magnetic field depending on the electric current that passes through them. 

Mechanism of action

One theory of how MT can help with OA mentions the ability of the magnetic field to increase the chondrocytes (cells which are present in the cartilage of joints, and produce a lubricant for the joints) in the joint. Increasing the number of chondrocytes would result in better lubrication of the joint and therefore result in reducing bone-on-bone impact and inflammation.¹² 

Another theory proposes that the magnetic field from the magnets interacts with the magnetic and electric fields of our body. The cells in our body have ions (electrically charged molecules), that change their behaviour in accordance with the magnetic fields. The basis of this theory has been verified through research where a magnetic field has been shown to affect ion behaviour in cells but it has never been studied in a clinical setting.¹³ 

Who should not use magnetic therapy? 

The limitations of MT are not well studied, however since it is a non-invasive method and does not require much equipment to administer, it is considered to have few side effects. Some individuals have described nausea and dizziness as a side effect of prolonged MT. It is advised that pregnant women and individuals with any metallic medical devices in their body i.e. pacemakers or bolts/screws, do not undergo MT.¹⁴ 

Clinical evidence 

The use of MT has been studied for a variety of diseases including OA.¹⁴ However, all of the results show no significant effect caused by MT compared to the placebo. This means that the benefits do not show a large enough effect compared to the individuals who did not receive MT.¹⁵ This is the reason why MT has been classified as pseudoscience. 

Most studies therefore conclude by saying that MT may be a complementary therapy for individuals with OA.¹⁶ This is because individuals have received some benefits from MT, but it has not been verified through clinical studies. 

Interpretation of results - what does this mean?

As previously mentioned, the studies that focused on magnetic therapy for pain management and mobilisation of a joint have had mixed results.^14,15,16 There are multiple factors to consider for this, for example, there is a wide range of individuals who might suffer from the same condition i.e. osteoarthritis, but have different levels of severeness. 

The genetic background of individuals can also play a factor because our genetics determine how our joints, tendons, and surrounding tissues are constructed. Therefore, magnetic therapy that might work on a very specific structure within an individual's knee joint might not work for someone else. Another factor is the mental aspect, where pain reception varies from person to person. Therefore, it is expected to have mixed results across the population.

Magnetic therapy for osteoarthritis - truth or myth?

Since magnetic therapy does not have solid evidence of effectiveness, a combination of therapies might help those with OA. Several systemic studies showed individuals with OA who benefited from MT.¹⁴ Although not scientifically backed, they do provide some insight into combining MT with other forms of OA management, such as maintaining a healthy weight, increasing musculature in the body, and keeping an eye on blood glucose. Pairing that with relaxation methods such as meditation can perhaps increase the effectiveness of MT on OA. 

Summary

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive disease that affects the joints and surrounding tissues of an individual. It is mainly seen in the elderly where it is a lifetime of wear-and-tear damage to the joints that show all the symptoms. There are existing pharmaceutical methods of managing OA as well as undergoing lifestyle changes, which include exercise, weight loss, and meditation. 

Magnetic therapy is a non-invasive field of therapeutics that involves using a magnetic field to interact with the afflicted area to decrease pain, increase blood flow, and allow reparations in the joint and tissue. Various forms of magnetic therapy are tailored to the required area of treatment.

There is no conclusive evidence that magnetic therapy can treat OA from a research perspective and all clinical studies thus far have shown mixed responses. However, this can be attributed to multiple factors such as genetic differences in individuals, different magnets and their strengths, and a variety in the perceived benefits.

Although unproven in its capacity, combining other therapies with magnetic therapy may prove helpful for managing OA in terms of pain relief, joint flexibility, and a piece of mind. Given that there is plenty of anecdotal evidence of magnetic therapy being effective in pain relief and joint mobility for individuals suffering from OA, it may prove beneficial.