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Magnetic therapy

Also called: static magnets, magnetic bracelets, magnet therapy, rTMS, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, TMS, PEMF

'Magnetic therapy' means two very different things: static magnets (bracelets, mats) which don't work, and rTMS - a real, clinic-based brain stimulation with genuine evidence.

Depends on the type

Depends entirely on the type. Static magnets (bracelets, mats) have good evidence they do NOT work. rTMS - a clinical brain-stimulation treatment - has real evidence as an add-on for aphasia and motor recovery.

The name covers very different treatments whose evidence ranges from none to strong.

“Magnetic therapy” is a confusing label, because it covers two completely different things with opposite levels of evidence. Getting this distinction right can save you money - and point you to a treatment that genuinely helps.

1. Static magnets - not supported

These are the magnetic bracelets, insoles, mats, and jewellery sold for pain and “healing”. The evidence is clear and not kind: a systematic review of randomised trials concluded that static magnets do not relieve pain beyond placebo [Pittler MH 2007] , and the US NCCIH states there is no convincing evidence they work for any pain condition [National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) 2024] . There is also no plausible mechanism by which a small static magnet could influence the brain through the skull. Save your money.

2. rTMS - a real, evidence-based treatment

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is something entirely different: a medical device in a clinic uses rapidly changing magnetic pulses to stimulate brain circuits. Evidence-based guidelines give rTMS genuine (Level A/B) recommendations for several conditions, and it shows promise as an add-on for post-stroke motor recovery and aphasia when paired with rehabilitation [Lefaucheur J-P 2020] . A related technique, PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field), also uses changing - not static - fields and is a separate topic.

The honest bottom line

  • Static magnets: don’t buy them for stroke, Parkinson’s, or pain relief.
  • rTMS: a legitimate clinical treatment - ask a neurologist or rehab specialist whether it is appropriate and available for you, alongside therapy.

How this site helps

rTMS works best paired with practice. If aphasia or movement is your focus, the language and attention activities and games below give the kind of repeatable practice that pairs with therapy.

Read about it

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Plain-language guides and cited research on this therapy.

Practise it

Do-it-on-the-page activities and quizzes that support this therapy.

Play it

Calm, no-fail games that give extra practice - they open in the separate games player.

References (3)
  1. 1. Pittler MH, Brown EM, Ernst E (2007). Static magnets for reducing pain: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials. CMAJ, 177(7), 736-742. doi:10.1503/cmaj.061344
  2. 2. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) (2024). Magnets for pain: what you need to know. U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Link
  3. 3. Lefaucheur J-P, Aleman A, Baeken C, et al. (2020). Evidence-based guidelines on the therapeutic use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS): an update (2014-2018). Clinical Neurophysiology, 131(2), 474-528. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2019.11.002

This is general education, not medical advice. Talk to your clinician before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment.