The United States Food and Drug Administration has recently allowed claims of efficacy for magnetic stimulation for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and sleep problems. The approved device creates a very week magnetic field in the region of the hypothalamus. It has been proved to be a safe and effective treatment for insomnia and anxiety.

The FDA designed trials were performed at two leading University Sleep Laboratories.

The device was also proven effective for anxiety at Harvard Medical School.

Researchers at the Barry University's School of Podiatric Medicine reported that permanently magnetized pads can relieve pain associated with debilitating Heel Spur Syndrome (HSS).

77.1 percent showed remarkable increase in ability to walk without pain as against the 16.6 percent improvement reported by those with the demagnetized pads after the two-week therapy was concluded in Miami, Florida. The application of the pads to the treatment areas produced no side effects or skin irritation. Out of the twenty patients who volunteered, six were given placebo.

Pads used are rectangular and are 53 mm x 83 mm and produce about 300 gauss of magnetic current. The magnetic coils inside each pad are arranged in concentric circles and are not visible or palpable.

Permanently magnetized and demagnetized pads were applied to the symptomatic feet without the patient or the clinician able to differentiate due to identical appearing pads. Patients were told that they must use their pads as instructed for the entire trial period for optimal therapeutic benefit.

The effectiveness comparison index was used to compare the therapeutic effectiveness of magnetized and demagnetized pads between the groups in the trial population.

The patients tested, varying from ages 21 to 78, had either heel spur or acute planter fiascitis symptoms such as: aciiina, burninc, or sharp pain on the heel area and have had symptoms in the above areas for at least two weeks. However, none of the patients have neurological damage to their back or lower extremities. The sex of the patients was noted, but not thought to be a significant factor in the study.

The National Center for Health Statistics reports that approximately 59 million Americans have some type of foot problem and a substantial number of these injuries belong to individuals who engage in sports.

HSS, heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, heel bursitis all refer to the same condition - typical heel pain; and is third only to headaches and low back pain as the most common cause of inflammatory pain in the human body.

Plantar fasciitis refers to the inflammation of the plantar fascia--the tissue that forms the arch of the foot. A heel spur is a hook of bone that can form on the foot bone (calcaneus) and is associated with plantar fasciitis.

About 70% of patients with plantar fasciitis have a heel spur that can be seen on X-Ray. However, many patients without symptoms of pain can have a heel spur. The exact relationship between plantar fasciitis and heel spurs is not known for sure.

HSS is characterized by pain after periods of inactivity; especially in the morning. It usually improves with normal activity but gets worse again at the end of an active day. As the condition worsens, gait alterations usually lead to pain in other areas of the feet, knees, hips, or back.

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The FDAhas approved magnetic therapy for use in many things from healing broken bones to osteoarthritis. One magnetic therapy treatment that was invented 15 years ago, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been described as "one of the hottest research tools in neuroscience." The treatment directs tiny magnetic pulses at certain parts of the brain and is used to treat epilepsy and depression.

Prof. Betty Sisken, who works in research at the University of Kentucky has spent 25 years investigating using magnetic therapy to aid in nerve regeneration. Prof Sisken has shown that the healing of damaged nerves can be speeded up dramatically by exposing them to low-power pulsed magnetic fields.

Dr Nakagawa, Chief of Tokyo's Isuzu Hospita in japan has treated more than 11,000 patients suffering from muscle spasms with magnetic therapy.  90% became pain free. 

     Dr W D Muhlbauer, the Head of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Munich University, reported to the Society of Surgery that wounds and burns treated with magnetic therapy were healing very fast and well.

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