Indeed. They are a placebo only. :) Ever see an analysis of the strength of the magnetic field from one of those. LOL!!!! Not to mention that there is zero evidence that a magnetic field heals or hurts the body in anyway. Case in point an MRI machine.
I will give the "healing magnets" credit for one thing. The field strength at the surface of the cells at least exceeds those generated by high-voltage power lines, if not those generated by themal noise.
NEOCONTROLTM Gives Hope for Patients with Incontinence
Incontinence…It is a condition most people don't want to talk about ... much less seek medical attention for it. There are 13 million adults (85 percent women) it affects, but experts think there may be many more. There are four basic types of the condition, each caused by a medical problem:
Stress incontinence: occurs with physical activity such as coughing or laughing. It's the result of weakness in the pelvic floor muscles.
Urge incontinence: a sudden strong urge to urinate along with a sudden uncontrollable rush of urine. It usually stems from an overactive bladder muscle, as the result of a bladder infection, or a neurological condition Mixed incontinence: a combination of urge and stress incontinence.
Overflow incontinence: usually experienced as a frequent or constant dribble. It is frequently caused by diabetes or a spinal injury.
Urinary incontinence is not a disease, but a condition with severe economical and psychological impact. It is a major health problem because it can lead to disability and dependency. The good news is that in most cases urinary incontinence can be treated and controlled, if not cured. The bad news is that many may not know that treatment is a choice. Dr. Howard Russell, an OB/GYN physician at TGMC, has brought a new treatment for urinary incontinence to the community. He is one of the first doctors in Louisiana to offer this non-invasive and painless treatment called NEOCONTROLTM.
"The therapy is completely painless," stresses Dr. Russell.
NEOCONTROLTM was approved by the Federal Drug Administration in June 1998. The treatment works directly to rebuild the strength and endurance of the pelvic floor muscles, reestablishing bladder control. Patients sit fully clothed in a treatment chair that houses magnetic technology.
"There's basically a big magnet under the chair and the patient can feel a vibration or a little tapping while the treatment is in process," explains Dr. Russell. "It contracts the pelvic floor muscles and it hopefully strengthens those muscles so when the patient does cough, sneeze, laugh or exercise, the bladder does not leak."
Highly specialized magnets have been designed and built into the seat of a chair. The therapeutic magnetic field is positioned above the seat of the chair and is about the size of a small pineapple. When the patient is sitting, the nerves controlling the pelvic floor muscles are within the therapeutic field. Rapid changes in this field induce the nerves to fire and direct the muscles of the pelvic floor to contract. The rate and strength of contractions can be adjusted to the optimal setting using simple controls, like tuning the frequency and volume on a radio. The painless treatments require only 20 to 30 minutes twice a week for eight weeks. By exercising the muscles that control urinary continence, the therapy helps rebuild strength lost due to childbirth, surgery, injury or hormonal changes.
In clinical trials, 77 percent of patients who received the therapy reported improvement after eight weeks. Of that percentage, 56 percent reported no more leakage and saw their quality of life improve without surgery.
Prior to any treatment, the patient should have a complete examination to determine the exact cause of incontinence. This therapy is not appropriate for everyone.
"There is help for incontinence," says Dr. Russell. "It might be something as simple as taking antibiotics to clear up a urinary tract infection. There are options short of surgery such as medication and strengthening the pelvic floor muscles.
For more information on NEOCONTROLTM, call (504) 868-1561.