Magnets

[Lollyhoney]

Have any of you used magnets in the treatment of shin splints? does it work??

[Lollyhoney]

Sorry just to be clear- it's for a horse!!

[lankeela]

Magnet therapy is used in racing greyhounds, by putting them into a plastic 'box' which has magnets in the base, and also for dogs with arthritis by use of a collar which has a magnet attached. They work by speeding up the blood flow and making the body heal quicker. I would have thought they would do the same for splints, certainly seems more humane than firing.

[Rabelais]

http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/QA/magnet.html

As a general summary magnets have been shown not to live up to any of it's healing claims.

[jake-the-peg]

This from wikipedia:

No magnet healing product manufacturers have demonstrated scientifically that they actually achieve what they claim, and most cannot even agree on what exactly the magnetic fields do. Some claim that the magnets help to circulate the blood by some interaction with the iron in hemoglobin, a major component of red blood cells. However, in its ionised form, iron is not ferromagnetic. If it were, use of magnetic resonance imaging would instantaneously kill patients

[Kilala]

Right, so having disproved the theory of magnetic therapy, has anyone actually given any practical advice??

I do not follow research into the results of magnetic therapy, but can tell you what I know through first hand experience.

I have treated dogs riddled with arthritus with magnets, and a dog that would not move will now potter about without squealing. I have also seen my grandmother re-pass her driving test after having used magnets to ease her joint pain- with no other medication.

As for shin splints, there may well be some more valid opinions out there on the web, but unless it will prove expensive, it would be worth a try!

[ruthann58]

saw on morning tele last week doctors are now able to prescribe magnets so they must be of some use i wear one for a bad shoulder and it is greatly improved while i wear it also my dog has one for her arthritis in her hips i was amazed at the difference it made to her so i bought one for me, the animals always come first, also have a friend who has a blanket with them in which is for horses and she also swears by it,

[cosford]

I have used magnets to reduce splints. However try Splintex. This can be purchased from the USA via internet. If the splint is fresh use Silver Splintex but if settled and hard use Gold Splintex. Be careful not to over load bruch as hair may grow back white (if using on black legs this can be dyed with Nice and Easy Black dye. Grey legs no problem. But DO NOT use with magnets as this will back the legs blister. Check that you farrier is not overloading one side of foot as this can sometimes cause the problem. Be patient!