Adam Wallace-Harrison on Managing Pain in Professional Rugby
Professional rugby places enormous physical demands on the body. In this interview, Adam Wallace-Harrison shares his perspective on pain management, recovery, and what it takes to stay on the field in a high-impact sport.
See: Magnetic Therapy for Sports Injury Recovery
Professional rugby places repeated stress on muscles, joints, and connective tissue. Managing pain is not just about recovery after injury, it’s about maintaining performance over time.
Athletes often rely on a combination of strategies, including load management, physiotherapy, and recovery tools. Understanding how pain develops, and how it can become persistent, can play an important role in long-term performance.
For a deeper understanding of how pain can evolve over time, see our article on Why Pain Becomes Chronic And Why Early Treatment Matters.
Some approaches also explore how physical interventions interact with the nervous system. You can learn more about this in How Q Magnets Work? and our framework on Field | Dose | Placement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Q Magnet devices mask pain?
Q Magnets are not intended to numb an area like a local anaesthetic. They do not work like lidocaine, opioid medication, or pain-relieving drugs that temporarily block or override pain perception. Their proposed role is more closely related to nervous system modulation. Laboratory and theoretical work suggests that steep static magnetic field gradients may influence nerve excitability and membrane behaviour, especially where sensitized nerves are involved. A careful way to explain this is: Q Magnets may help create a localized field environment that supports reversible neuromodulation. They are not designed to “switch nerves off” permanently or hide an injury that needs medical care. If pain is severe, worsening, unexplained, or associated with injury, swelling, weakness, numbness, fever, or other concerning symptoms, seek appropriate medical advice.
How do Q Magnets work?
Q Magnets are designed to create localized static magnetic field gradients using multipolar magnet geometry. Unlike simple bipolar magnets, Q Magnets use alternating poles within one device to produce a more complex field pattern. The proposed biological effect is not based simply on magnet strength. Instead, Q Magnets are positioned through Field | Dose | Placement: field refers to multipolar geometry and localized gradients; dose includes magnet size, field strength, tissue depth, exposure time, and cumulative use; and placement means accurate positioning over or near the relevant nerve, joint, soft tissue, acupressure point, or referral pathway. Research and theoretical work suggest that steep static magnetic field gradients may influence neuronal membrane excitability and ion channel behaviour. This may help explain why correct placement and model selection are so important. Q Magnets should therefore be understood as precision field-based recovery tools rather than general-purpose magnets.
How do I apply the Q Magnet device?
Q Magnets can be applied using sports tape such as Fixomull, Hyperfix, or Cover-Roll, double-sided adhesive patches such as QFix28, QFix6 plasters for smaller models, braces, elastic supports, bandages, headbands, or the Flux Attachment Plate for suitable clothing applications. The key is to hold the magnet securely in the correct position. Q Magnets depend on accurate placement, and even a small shift may change the field exposure at the target area. See How To Use Q Magnets. For longer use, many people prefer a brace, wrap, elastic support, or clothing-based attachment method rather than repeated taping. For sport or movement, make sure the magnet cannot slip, detach, or attach unexpectedly to metal equipment. Always apply the magnet with the correct side facing the body and the orientation arrow aligned as directed.
Since placement of Q Magnets is critical, how does one find the specific placement?
The simplest starting point is to place the Q Magnet over the area of tenderness. This may be suitable for local pain patterns such as a tender tendon, joint, muscle area, or minor localized injury. However, placement is not always obvious. Pain may be referred from another area, influenced by nerve pathways, or related to spinal segments, acupressure points, or sensitized neural structures. In these cases, multiple Q Magnets may be used along relevant nerve pathways or related anatomical regions. This is where Field | Dose | Placement becomes practical. The field must be appropriate for the target, the magnet size and exposure must match the depth and tissue, and the placement must be accurate enough to expose the intended area to the field gradient. For most users, the Body Map is the best starting point because it gives recommended placements and magnet combinations. More complex pain syndromes may require guidance from a practitioner with knowledge of anatomy, neurology, physiotherapy, or acupuncture-style point selection.
Can I travel on planes while wearing Q Magnet devices?
Many people travel while wearing Q Magnets without issue. Wearing them through airport security usually does not cause a problem, but security rules and airline policies can vary. The bigger concern is packing strong magnets in luggage. Some airlines or freight rules may restrict magnets in checked or carry-on baggage, particularly if they are strong or packaged poorly. Keep Q Magnets securely packed so they cannot attach to metal objects, damage magnetic items, or move around in your bag. Check with your airline if you are travelling with multiple or larger magnets. Do not use magnets in a way that could interfere with aircraft instruments, and always follow airline and airport instructions.
