Magnetotherapy: For the osteoarthritis and low back pain treatment

Technological developments in the area of medicine have opened new techniques and treatments. Magnetotherapy, through the application of magnetic fields, helps mitigate the symptoms of conditions, mainly bone and muscle. Next, we talk about magnetotherapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis and low back pain. Discover the best equipment, how it is applied and its beneficial effects.

What is magnetotherapy?

Magnetotherapy is a treatment that is based on the application of continuous electromagnetic fields that stimulate the cells of our body. It has become a good ally of physiotherapists and rehabilitation centers, since it restores the correct electrical potential, both intracellular and extracellular, that has been lost due to injury, trauma or illness.

Its main applications are the treatment of pain, inflammation, muscle injuries or bone decalcification and, among the most treated diseases through magnetotherapy, osteoarthritis (knee, back or cervical) and low back pain stand out, because one of the great advantages of this treatment is its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and tissue regenerating effect.

Magnetotherapy is considered an alternative medicine that gives great results, so the use of this treatment based on magnets and magnetic fields has been generalized in therapies aimed at bone problems (osteoarthritis, decalcification, osteoporosis, osteonecrosis, fractures …) and muscle (low back pain, tendonitis, bruises, contractures, cartilaginous lesions, epicondylitis or tennis elbow …), as well as in tissue healing processes.

Types of magnet therapy

Magnetotherapy treatments are distinguished from each other depending on the frequency used to perform it. Thus, we distinguish:

• Low-frequency magnetotherapy: It is used to treat diseases or pathologies that affect hard or inflamed tissues. The maximum frequency is 150 Hz.
• High-frequency magnetotherapy: High-frequency waves are used, but of low intensity and is a suitable treatment for diseases or pathologies of soft tissues. Its frequency is between 18 and 900 Hz.

Currently, physiotherapists resort to the usual use of high and low-frequency magnetic fields, since there are useful methodologies to treat diverse pathologies. Likewise, it is an easy to apply, precise and very effective technique, so the relationship between physiotherapy and magnet therapy is very close.

Magnetotherapy Devices

In order to perform a good treatment through magnetotherapy, both physiotherapists and rehabilitation centers need to have magnetotherapy devices. However, currently, you can find I-Tech brand portable equipment with the latest technology, which allows anyone to enjoy magnet therapy sessions at home. To apply a good magnet therapy treatment, it is important to ensure that the device in question has different adjustable frequency programs, so that they respect the specialist’s instructions to be able to perform appropriate sessions for each lesion.

Currently, the market offers a wide range of devices for performing magnetotherapy treatments. The fundamental thing is to make sure that it is a medical device with the CE certificate.

The I-Tech product catalog is varied with products that adapt to each type of treatment. Also, to complete the kit, we recommend you purchase the perfect accessories for magnetotherapy devices, such as the therapeutic pad, solenoid strip or professional solenoids for high-intensity therapies.

Magnetotherapy Treatment

Making good use of magnetotherapy devices is essential to be able to receive good treatment and soothe the inflammation and pain caused by both low back pain and osteoarthritis, among other pathologies.

To achieve an optimal result, it is recommended to perform magnetotherapy sessions daily for at least two hours. Its effects may be noticed in an average time of 45 to 60 days of treatment, although it may be necessary to continue the cycle of sessions after one year, especially in cases of arthritis, low back pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis or articulate pain.

Magnetotherapy Effects

Conducting electromagnetic stimulation sessions will allow you to improve, treat and reduce bone and muscle pain. Among the positive effects and benefits of magnetotherapy, it should be noted:

• Analgesic effect
• Anti-inflammatory effect
• Muscle relaxation
• Cellular stimulation
• Increase in oxygenation
• Delayed cartilage degeneration
• Bone reconstruction
• Increase bone calcification
• Improves the immune system

Magnetotherapy for osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a disease that progressively degenerate the cartilage, so there is no treatment that can eradicate it. However, magnetotherapy helps reduce your symptoms and slow your progress, thanks to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.

This non-invasive and painless technique will reduce pain thanks to the application of magnetic fields in the affected area. Its daily application is recommended during sessions between 45 and 60 days, which should be repeated throughout the year to mitigate the osteoarthritis symptoms.

Magnetotherapy for low back pain

To treat chronic or acute low back pain, low-frequency magnetotherapy is used, since it is an effective technique for any painful and inflammatory process. To obtain an optimal result and the method to be effective, a daily application of at least 20 sessions, lasting about 45 minutes, is required.

The unit of the equipment in the affected area will increase blood flow and also the local temperature, which will favor the anti-inflammatory effect. The pain will decrease considerably once the inflammation goes down and the pressure decreases. The relaxing effects of magnetotherapy to calm the lower back are 100% demonstrated.

Contraindications of Magnetotherapy

Magnetotherapy has very few contraindications, although it is true that its use is inadvisable in certain patients.

If you are thinking of buying magnetotherapy equipment, consider if:

• You are pregnant.
• You have pacemakers.
• You have metal plates on the body.
• You have tuberculosis.
• You have a neurological or infectious disease.
• You have some type of cancer.
• You have coronary problems.

If you are in one of these groups does not mean that you cannot use magnet therapy as a treatment. However, it is more than advisable that in these cases you consult with your medical specialist and be the one who, history in hand, advises you or advises against its application to treat your medical condition.