Copper bracelets and magnetic straps fail the test

Are you a believer in those copper bracelets or magnetic straps which claim to help arthritis? The truth is they don’t help at all according to scientific research. From Sciencenewsline

Copper bracelets and magnet wrist straps have no real effect on pain, swelling, or disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis, according to new findings from a study conducted at the University of York.

In the first randomised controlled trial to study the effects of copper bracelets and magnetic wrist straps on rheumatoid arthritis, 70 patients with active symptoms each wore four different devices over a five-month period, reporting on their pain, disability, and medication use throughout the study. Participants also provided blood samples, after wearing each device for five weeks, in order to monitor changes in inflammation.

The research published in PLOS ONE, show that both the standard magnetic wrist strap and the copper bracelet provided no meaningful therapeutic effects beyond those of a placebo, which was not magnetic and did not contain copper.

If you must wear them as a decoration that’s fine but if for so-called health benefits, unfortunately it’s no better than placebo.