title: Double-blind study of pulsing magnetic field effects on multiple sclerosis.
abstract: We performed a double-blind study to measure the clinical and subclinical effects of an alternative medicine magnetic device on disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). The MS patients were exposed to a magnetic pulsing device (Enermed) where the frequency of the magnetic pulse was in the 4-13 Hz range (50-100 milliGauss). A total of 30 MS patients wore the device on preselected sites between 10 and 24 hours a day for 2 months. Half of the patients (15) randomly received an Enermed device that was magnetically inactive and the other half received an active device. Each MS patient received a set of tests to evaluate MS disease status before and after wearing the Enermed device. The tests included (1) a clinical rating (Kurtzke, EDSS), (2) patient-reported performance scales, and (3) quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) during a language task. Although there was no significant change between pretreatment and posttreatment in the EDSS scale, there was a significant improvement in the performance scale (PS) combined rating for bladder control, cognitive function, fatigue level, mobility, spasticity, and vision (active group -3.83 +/- 1.08, p < 0.005; placebo group -0.17 +/- 1.07, change in PS scale). There was also a significant change between pretreatment and posttreatment in alpha EEG magnitude during the language task recorded at various electrode sites on the left side. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we have demonstrated a statistically significant effect of the Enermed magnetic pulsing device on patient performance scales and on alpha EEG magnitude during a language task.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lappin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Acosta-Urquidi
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Heide
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Lawrie
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Merrill
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Melton
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology; D008280:Magnetics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology