There are a number of effects produced by inhomogeneous static magnetic fields like that of Q Magnets, the main ones being increasing the pain threshold and dampening sensitized nerves. The following study looked at the effects on cell membrane stabilization.
These effects at a cellular level could help explain the observations of Q Magnet therapy on haematomas.
OBJECTIVE: Swelling is a final common pathway to neuronal death following diverse insults that damage the central nervous system. Here we have tested the effect of a static magnetic field on neuronal edema induced by the excitotoxin, kainic acid (KA), in an effort to identify a new treatment strategy.
METHODS: Cultured mouse spinal cord neurons were superfused at 37°C with control buffer, buffer with altered ionic composition or buffer containing 125 m M kainic acid (KA) with/without different drugs (non-MAG). Different neurons were positioned in regions of a static magnetic field with steep variation of the field gradient produced by a square array of four permanent magnets of alternating polarity for 1-30 minutes prior (preRX ) to changing to the experimental superfusate (MAG). Digital image techniques, detection of changes in luminance through a selected neuron as a measure of cell swelling, and intracellular microelectrode recording techniques were used to assess cell size and function in different experimental solutions.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment with a static magnetic field reduced and slowed the rate of swelling induced by a high concentration of KA. This effect probably involved reduced entry of water and sodium and was mimicked by the diuretic furosemide. Other effects of KA were not blocked and neuronal death ensued after 30-60 min of exposure, probably due to entry and intracellular accumulation of calcium. Treatment with a gradient magnetic field may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of acute neuronal swelling.
A STATIC MAGNETIC FIELD SLOWS KAINIC ACID-INDUCED NEURONAL SWELLING. M.J. McLean, R.R. Holcomb, P.W. Macdonald, L. Sanderson and K. Lombard. Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37212, USA.
Bioelectromagnetics Society Annual Meeting, June 20-24, 1999. Long Beach, California, USA. 21st Annual Meeting. Pg. 35
Entire proceedings can be downloaded at the following link…
www.bioelectromagnetics.org/doc/bems1999-abstracts.pdf
Other studies have found similar conclusions. For instance the following paper states…
In this study we showed that static magnetic fields exert a strong and reproducible effect on the cell shape and on the plasma membrane, as well as on apoptosis in the different cell types; this later effect is mediated by the magnetic fields ability to increase Ca2+ influx…. the apoptytic rate of cells was reduced by 20-30%.
Chionna, A, et al. Cell Shape and plasma membrane alterations after static magnetic fields exposure. Eur J Histochem 2003;47(4):299-308 PMID: 14706925
