Can magnets really find off niggling injuries?
Health correspondent Mike Waites report.
Fitness fanatic Chris Elliott has worked out to stay in peak condition since he was a schoolboy but even he cannot fight the ravages time and three decades of wear and tear were increasing beginning to take their toll on this body. The 46 year old from
Hull was finding niggling injuries were taking much longer to heal, preventing him exercising as much as he wanted, and he was extremely stiff when he got up in the mornings.
That was until two years ago when he discovered the MagnaMax , invented in Beverley, which uses the power of magnets to restore the body based on the theory of magnotherapy which has been recognised in the Far East for thousands of years. He now wears a magnet constantly, enabling him to maintain what he says is the "body of a 30 year old" to work out in the gym and cycle as well as practice martial arts and play squash.
The science behind the restorative powers of the magnet remains a mystery but its makers claim it relieves pain and accelerates healing to help people with arthritis, back pain, migraine, tennis elbow, shin splints an other ailments.
Chris who works for Hull Council said; "Before I had MagnaMax I was seizing up when I got up, particularly in my ankles. I couldn't do some things because the after-effects were too painful - sometimes I couldn't walk. It really surprised my when I started using this and when I stropped for a while I really noticed what difference it made because I started seizing up again.
"When I put MagnaMax on a sprained ankle it really recovered quickly compared to a week or two weeks previously. I don't know how the damn thing works but it's very impressive. I have a full and active life and of course I still get twinges but I don't think I would be enjoying the life so much without it."
The inventor of the MagnaMax , Richard Gill, of Beverley, who patented it three years ago, said he had been looking to develop a magnotherapy product but it was by accident that he discovered changing the magnetic field from one polarity setting to another increased the level of relief dramatically. A prototype given to a colleague's daughter who had suffered hip pain since childhood worked almost immediately but an updated design proved less successful and it was found the magnetic field arrangement had been set incorrectly.
Further trials were carried out and the magnetic field configuration was adjusted to provide the highest level of relief. Since the initial trial, patients had used four configurations of polarity. It was impossible to predict in advance which would work although half of users got the best result with South-North-South polarity.
"It is not known, precisely why or how the system achieves its success and there is little scientific evidence to support it but there are too many people claiming relief for this phenomenon to be dismissed, " he said. "Magnotherapy has been used for thousands of years and in the Far East it has been readily accepted without people wanting to know how or why it works but since the introduction of it into Western countries it seems people require more evidence.
"It is possible the magnetic fields on the pulse improve blood circulating around the body, getting more blood to the affected area."
Natalie Wood
MAGNETISM CAN BEAT PAIN PETER CUSHING, a Thatcham policeman, left, is one of a growing band of patients singing the praises of magnotherapy. Since he began wearing a recently launched bracelet called MagnaMax , his severe leg pains have eased and he no longer has migraines. Peter, who is a dog handler with the Ministry of Defence Police, broke a leg in a motorbike accident while serving in the army in 1976. "I had my leg in plaster for 15 weeks which seized the knee up and I suffered a lot of pain. It got so bad that my wife virtually had to carry me up the stairs sometimes." The MagnaMax was suggested as a possible aid about two months ago by his daughter Lindsay, who works for GNC, in Northbrook Street, Newbury. The Health and Diet center stocks the bracelet which was patented in 1997 by Richard and Deborah Gill of Beverley, East Yorkshire. They were in the store in Newbury on Monday this week helping to promote the product. Richard discovered, completely by accident as it happens, that when patients in pain could change their magnetic field from one setting to another, their level of relief increased dramatically. Magnotherapy has been used for thousands of years, and in the Far East it has been readily accepted without people want to know how or why it works. However, in the West people are more cautious and require more evidence. The main difference between MagnaMax and other magnotherapy products is that the polarity of the magnets can be changed from the regular North-South-North to N-N-N or S-S-S or S-N-S. Deborah, who was sceptical about its qualities until she tried it herself, said: "From our research and customer feedback we have concluded that 51% of people get a result with the - + - polarity. In the 49% group, users reported back improvement in mobility and pain relief in both the - - - and + + +" They recommend patients to try the wrist strap on all polarities to find which suits them best. Richard said it is not known precisely why or how the system achieves its success and there is little scientific evidence to support it. It is possible the magnetic fields on the pulse improves blood circulating around the body, getting more blood to affected areas. The couple conducted various tests and trials before launching the MagnaMax this February. MagnaMax is sold on a 90 days full money-back guarantee, because they realise many potential beneficiaries are old and not prepared to risk paying almost £25.00 for a MagnaMax . More then 120 have been sold, and of the six returns to date, three said they did not work and three complained that it was rough on their sensitive skin. However, it has also helped one person who was suffering from a severe case of psoriasis. Others to benefit have suffered from back pain, tennis elbow, arthritis, shin splints and Achilles tendonitis. It still remains a mystery as to how magnetic fields can reduce pain and accelerate healing, however there are too many people claiming relief for this phenomenon to be dismissed. Anyone wanting more information should contact Chris Gil at 604 349 3550 or or email pk.healing@gmail..com
