The magnetotherapy is ideal for reducing pain and inflammation. An effective therapy, although it requires medium to long treatment times. For this reason, it is a good idea to choose the most comfortable and suitable applicator for you to do the treatments with confidence, from the comfort of your home.
We wanted to write this guide to help you choose which magnetotherapy accessory is best suited to treat your diagnosed condition and how to position it correctly for effective treatment.
What is the purpose of magnetotherapy?
Magnetotherapy is a painless and non-invasive therapeutic technique. Its simplicity of application and treatment timelines (minimum 3 hours for 45 consecutive days), allow you to perform it independently, in the comfort of your own home, sitting on the couch or while working at the computer.
By emitting pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF), magnetotherapy reduces pain and inflammation in bones, muscles and joints. When done with products from the LaMagneto line, it can treat two parts of the body at the same time or treat two different conditions in two different areas of the body. In this way you can work on multiple body parts such as the loins, neck, knee, ankles, shoulder and many other areas.
There are different magnetotherapy accessories that are better suited to a certain part of the body than others.
Before listing them, however, it is proper to make a p o’ clarity about what solenoids are. These devices are sometimes mistakenly referred to as “magnets” or “disks,” but they are actually windings of conducting wire, typically made of copper. When passed through by an electric current, such windings generate an electromagnetic field. This field, in turn, penetrates the skin tissues, stimulating cellular metabolism and promoting optimal absorption of nutrients.
In our devices, the solenoids are placed in a band, case or two-tone green and black mat for two reasons:
- Each solenoid has a positive and a negative side that create the electromagnetic field. The positive side is always the green side.
- The bicolor accessory helps you more easily distinguish which is the correct side to place on the area to be treated: that is, the green side.
Magnetotherapy in the lumbar region
The lower back area is often prone to conditions such as low back pain, arthrosis, and muscle contractures. Three different accessories can be used to best treat this area:
- The F3S2000 therapeutic band
- The CV2S2000 pair of solenoids
- The TAP2000 mattress or for overnight treatments the Osteomat mattress
In the first 3 cases, the attachment should be placed with the green side on the lumbar area. It is important to keep the applicator well in contact with the body in the area where pain occurs. In the case of the elastic band, you will simply close it over the abdomen as shown in the image below.
If, on the other hand, you use the pair of solenoids, you can lie on your stomach and place the two solenoids on the area to be treated or, again, strap them on your abdomen. Instead, it turns out to be much more comfortable to use the mat because you will only need to place it between you and the back of the chair or sofa.
Magnetotherapy in the cervical area
The application of therapy magnets to the cervical area is very simple. To treat this area you just need to have the therapy band and place the green side of the band in contact with the area to be treated.
If the pressure on the neck does not bother you, you can remain sitting or lying down. However, we recommend treatment while sitting and making sure that the magnetic field is as centered as possible in the area of interest.
Osteoporosis, cervicalgia, arthrosis and contractures of the neck area can be treated with this application.
Shoulder magnetotherapy
To carry out a magnetotherapy session on the shoulder area, you have two options: use the therapeutic band or the pair of solenoids that fits the joints best. In the first case, we recommend that you sit on the couch and place the band with the green side straddling the shoulder, making sure to cover the area to be treated well.
In the case of the pair of solenoids, they will need to be placed one in front and one behind the shoulder (as if to create a sandwich with the shoulder in the middle) and then stop the solenoids with the elastic band containing the felt (see the image below).
Many conditions of this complex joint can be treated, from fractures to scapulohumeral periarthritis to contractures of muscles near the shoulder joint.
Hip magnetotherapy
The hip is one of the areas of the body that can be more difficult to treat depending on the patient’s build. But never fear! Again, you can use either the pair of solenoids by placing one solenoid in front of the hip and one behind, or use the F3S2000 therapeutic band as in the picture below.
The picture shows the location of the solenoids for treatment of the coxofemoral area.
Through this application, conditions such as coxarthrosis, inflammatory processes, osteoporosis, and periarticular muscle contractures can be treated.
Also in this type of treatment, the correct side of the band or pair of solenoids is the green side. This side is the one that gives off the positive magnetic field and should always be in contact with the area of the body to be treated.
Wrist magnetotherapy
To conduct a wrist magnetotherapy session, simply wrap the wrist in the therapeutic band so that the magnetic field surrounds it entirely, always keeping the positive green part in contact with the part of the body to be treated. Perfect adherence of the entire band is not necessary. It is sufficient for the wrist to be inside the band.
In case you have purchased the LaMagneto Pro or LaMagneto X device, or directly the applicator the pair of solenoids, you will be able to use this accessory by placing your wrist, and thus the pain area, between the two solenoids. In this way the solenoids will adhere perfectly to the skin, as shown in the picture.
This application is suitable for the treatment of consolidation deficits in fractures, localized osteoporosis, tendonitis, arthritis, and carpal tunnel.
Knee Magnetotherapy
To conduct a knee magnetotherapy session, it is necessary to place the solenoids on the area to be treated, as in the picture. Again, either the therapeutic band or the pair of solenoids can be used.
The application is suitable for the treatment of calcification delays, tendinitis of the lateral ligaments, and arthritic or arthrosic processes of the knee.
Should the position be uncomfortable or painful, a rolled up towel or pillow can be placed under the popliteal fossa, and by slightly flexing the knee, the discomfort will disappear.
Ankle magnetotherapy
To treat this area of the body, you need to wrap the ankle so that the band surrounds the entire joint, thus achieving maximum treatment effectiveness. If you use the pair of solenoids instead, you must place the ankle between the two magnets, as shown in the image.
Ankle magnetotherapy is most commonly recommended in cases of arthrotic or arthritic processes, osteoporosis, and consolidation deficits following fractures, tendinitis, and sprains.
Magnetotherapy to the elbow joint
One of the possible applications for magnetotherapy in the elbow area is shown in the image. In fact, again the two accessories you can use to treat the joint are either the therapeutic band or the pair of solenoids.
If you use the band, moving it slightly in the direction of your hand can cover the entire joint.
Moving further away from the elbow, the flexor-extensor muscles of the hand, epicondyle, and epitrochlea (for treatment of its specific tendonitis) can also be involved in treatment.
The application lends itself to the treatment of conditions such as osteoarthritis and delayed calcification following fractures.
How to tell if the magnetotherapy is working?
As seen above, magnetotherapy requires medium to long treatment times and during the session it does not emit vibrations and is painless. For this reason, it may be normal to ask questions about the effectiveness of the therapy or simply wonder if the device is working properly.
In the first case, there is a multitude of clinical studies that
Magnetotherapy uses low-frequency, high-intensity pulsed magnetic fields induced by an electric current running through a coil; because of its characteristics, it is now universally recognized as the most suitable technique for the treatment of bone disease and osteoporosis in particular.
The biological changes induced by magnetic fields on cell membranes provide biostimulation that can restore the proper function of the cell itself.
According to the experiences of several authors, in cases of osteoporosis as early as the sixth session there is a significant regression of pain symptoms and even more striking fact there is a significant increase in BMD (Bone Mass Density). The high magnetic field flux value (Gauss) generated by the device, allows the treatment of the patient even in the presence of braces or plaster.
If you are going to have magnetotherapy, you will need to arm yourself with patience because results will not be seen immediately. This therapy requires a minimum of 45 consecutive days of treatment to get the first results: namely, pain reduction. Obviously, the timing varies depending on multiple variables including the patient’s health status, the condition being treated, age, body area, and many others.
If you still have questions about magnetotherapy, you can visit our FAQ page at any time.
How to choose the right device?
There are many models of magnetotherapy devices on the market. Low frequency and high intensity devices, or high frequency and low intensity, battery or current powered, two independent channels or not. So many features that make choosing the right device more arduous than usual. But fear not! We have prepared a guide to buying magnetotherapy devices to help you choose the one that best suits your needs.
Bibliography
- Panagopoulos DJ, Karabarbounis A, Margaritis LH. Mechanism for action of electromagnetic fields on cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2002 Oct 18;298(1):95-102. doi: 10.1016/s0006-291x(02)02393-8. PMID: 12379225.
