The use of magnetic fields in treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Review of the literature.
Magnetic fields are commonly used in therapies designed for subjects with rheumatic diseases, yet the effects of magnetotherapy are not entirely clear in these disorders. This study is designed to examine the literature investigating applications of magnetotherapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The review focused on publications related to administering magnetotherapy in patients with RA. The databases Science Direct, SpringerLink, Medline, PubMed, and Polska Bibliografia Lekarska were searched for reports published since 2005. Despite the numerous reports showing an impact of magnetic field in subjects with RA, the effectiveness of magnetotherapy has not been explicitly confirmed. Given the above, further research appears to be necessary to clarify the impact of magnetic fields on biological systems, and the relationship between magnetic field intensity and the obtained results as well as their durability. The majority of clinical trials have failed to identify any undesirable outcomes or side effects of this physical therapeutic factor.
Institute of Physiotherapy, Rzeszów University, Rzeszow, Poland; Regional Rehabilitation-Educational Centre for Children and Teenagers with the name of blessed John Paul II at the Provincial Clinical Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszow, Poland.
Jolanta
J
Zwolińska
Regional Rehabilitation-Educational Centre for Children and Teenagers with the name of blessed John Paul II at the Provincial Clinical Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszow, Poland.
Monika
M
Gąsior
Institute of Physiotherapy, Rzeszów University, Rzeszow, Poland.
Elżbieta
E
Śnieżek
Institute of Physiotherapy, Rzeszów University, Rzeszow, Poland.
Andrzej
A
Kwolek
magnetotherapy; pain; physical therapy modalities; rheumatic diseases