Magnets for Pain Relief

© Matthew Lester

Magnets have not been proven to work for any health-related 

reason, yet static, or permanent, magnets are widely marketed for 

pain control. This fact sheet provides basic information about 

magnets for pain, summarizes scientific research, and suggests 

sources for additional information.

Key Points 

• Scientific evidence does not support the use of magnets for 

pain relief.

• Do not use magnets as a replacement for conventional medical 

treatment or as a reason to postpone seeing your health care 

provider about any health problems.

• Magnets may not be safe for some people, such as those who use 

pacemakers or insulin pumps, as magnets may interfere with 

the devices. Otherwise, magnets are generally considered safe 

when applied to the skin. 

• Tell all your health care providers about any complementary 

health practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do 

to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and 

safe care.

About Magnets 

A magnet produces a measurable force called a magnetic field. 

Static magnets have magnetic fields that do not change (unlike 

another type called electromagnets, which generate magnetic fields 

only when electrical current flows through them). Magnets are 

usually made from metals (such as iron) or alloys (mixtures of 

metals, or of a metal and a nonmetal).

Magnets come in different strengths, often measured in units called 

gauss (G) or, alternatively, units called tesla (T; 1 T = 10,000 G). 

Magnets marketed for pain relief usually claim strengths of 300 to 

5,000 G)—many times stronger than the Earth’s magnetic field 

(about 0.5 G) but much weaker than the magnets used for MRI 

machines (approximately 15,000 G or higher).
2 

Use of Magnets for Health 

Magnets are often marketed for many different types of pain, including foot pain and back 

pain from conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. Various products with magnets in 

them include shoe insoles, bracelets and other jewelry, mattress pads, and bandages.

What the Science Says About Magnets for Pain 

Scientific evidence does not support the use of magnets for pain relief.

Preliminary studies looking at different types of pain—such as knee, hip, wrist, foot, back, and 

pelvic pain—have had mixed results. Some of these studies, including a 2007 clinical trial 

sponsored by the National Institutes of Health that looked at back pain in a small group of 

people, have suggested a benefit from using magnets. However, many studies have not been of 

high quality; they included a small number of participants, were too short, and/or were 

inadequately controlled. The majority of rigorous trials, however, have found no effect on pain.

Safety and Side Effects 

Magnets may not be safe for some people such as those who use a pacemaker or an insulin 

pump; magnets may interfere with the functioning of the medical device. Otherwise, magnets 

are generally considered safe when applied to the skin. Reports of side effects or complications 

have been rare.

If You Are Considering Using Magnets 

• Do not replace scientifically proven medical treatments with unproven health practices.

• Do not use magnets or any unproven health practice as a reason to postpone seeing a 

health care provider about pain or any other medical problem.

• Tell all your health care providers about any complementary health practices you use. Give 

them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure 

coordinated and safe care. For tips about talking with your health care providers about

complementary and alternative medicine, see the National Center for Complementary and 

Alternative Medicine’s (NCCAM) Time to Talk campaign at nccam.nih.gov/timetotalk/. 

Selected References 

Colbert AP, Markov MS, Souder JS. Static magnetic field therapy: dosimetry considerations. Journal of Alternative and 

Complementary Medicine. 2008;14(5):577-582.

Eccles NK. A critical review of randomized controlled trials of static magnets for pain relief. Journal of Alternative and 

Complementary Medicine. 2005;11(3):495-509.

Khoromi S, Blackman MR, Kingman A, et al. Low intensity permanent magnets in the treatment of chronic lumbar 

radicular pain. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2007;34(4):434-445.
3 

Morris CE, Skalak TC. Acute exposure to a moderate strength static magnetic field reduces edema formation in rats. 

American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 2008;294(1):H50-H57.

Pittler MH, Brown EM, Ernst E. Static magnets for reducing pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized 

trials. CMAJ. 2007;177(7):736-742.

Richmond SJ, Brown SR, Campion PD, et al. Therapeutic effects of magnetic and copper bracelets in osteoarthritis: a 

randomised placebo-controlled crossover trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2009;17(5-6):249-256.

Rumbaut RE, Mirkovic D. Magnetic therapy for edema in inflammation: a physiological assessment. American Journal of 

Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 2008;294(1):H19-H20.

Vallbona C, Richards T. Evolution of magnetic therapy from alternative to traditional medicine. Physical Medicine and 

Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 1999;10(3):729-754.

For More Information

NCCAM Clearinghouse

The NCCAM Clearinghouse provides information on NCCAM and complementary health 

practices, including publications and searches of Federal databases of scientific and medical 

literature. The Clearinghouse does not provide medical advice, treatment recommendations, 

or referrals to practitioners.

Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-888-644-6226

TTY (for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers): 1-866-464-3615

Web site: nccam.nih.gov

E-mail: info@nccam.nih.gov

PubMed®

A service of the National Library of Medicine, PubMed contains publication information and (in 

most cases) brief summaries of articles from scientific and medical journals.

Web site: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez

ClinicalTrials.gov

ClinicalTrials.gov is a database of information on federally and privately supported clinical 

trials (research studies in people) for a wide range of diseases and conditions. It is sponsored 

by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Web site: www.clinicaltrials.gov

Acknowledgments 

NCCAM thanks the following people for their technical expertise and review of this 

publication: Partap Khalsa, D.C., Ph.D., and John (Jack) Killen, Jr., M.D., NCCAM.
This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain.

Duplication is encouraged.

NCCAM has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute for the 

medical expertise and advice of your primary health care provider. We encourage you to 

discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider. The mention of 

any product, service, or therapy is not an endorsement by NCCAM.

National Institutes of Health

♦♦♦

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

D408

Created March 2008

Updated February 2012