Magnetic Knee Braces and Sleeves: Magnetic Knee Support to Aid Injuries

Pick the Best Magnetic Knee Support to Help Injuries

Knee Braces are becoming more popular, both to protect your knees from injury, as well as to soothe sore knees following either athletics, or especially in the case of older people, arthritis and other conditions, related to worn out knees. A magnetic compression knee brace can relieve sore knees and maybe even aid in healing from injury or surgery recovery. However, before talking about knee compression sleeves with magnets, you probably wonder, why would anyone consider paying the extra money for a good quality magnet knee brace? Is there something therapeutic about magnets?

So, let’s take a look first at the topic of Magnetic Therapy.

Important Information about Magnetic Therapy

You can read a lot about Magnet Therapy. Some people say it will relieve back pain, knee pain, and joint pain. Doctors now use TMS, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (a fancy way of saying they strap magnets on your head) to treat depression, arthritis, and even numbness.

Many products on the market, such as magnetic bracelets, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy machines, have made various claims. So, the US government has viewed some claims of magnetic therapy benefits to be presumably untrue, bogus.

For example, Quackwatch, which, by its name, implies that fraudulent medical practitioners are “Quacks,” takes a very critical point of view about the use of magnets. The article points out several legal and regulatory actions against individuals and businesses promoting magnetic products.

It concluded that “There is no scientific basis for concluding that small, static magnets can relieve pain or influence the course of any disease.”

Additional Skepticism about Health Benefits of Magnets

The Website, Silly Beliefs, makes an extensive case against the use of magnets in promoting health. It proceeds to debunk many of the claims of proponents of magnetic therapy. The website, Live Science, also raises questions about whether static magnets really work.

Can You Trust Your Doctor?

That’s a loaded question, isn’t it? Doctors are one of the most respected professions. And yet, it’s important to note that the US healthcare system is based on a system of medicine based on drugs, surgery, and other expensive treatments.

Here is an article I saw just today by a doctor who expressed regret about how medicine is practiced. In his article, Medical Doctors as Money Grubbers, writer David Macaray tells the story of a Chief Medical Officer at a company explaining how doctors pump up medical costs. They do this with unnecessary tests, follow up appointments, and an overall conflict of interest in their bottom line and what’s actually needed for treatment.

Most doctors take the view that if they’re not trained in it, it can’t be good. The usual treatment by doctors involves taking drugs, especially expensive prescription drugs, which can have serious side effects, such as addiction to painkilling drugs., such as opiates.

The Changing Mood of Alternative Health Care

In recent years, we’ve seen an influx of new therapies, such as Acupuncture, Naturopathy, Ayurvedic Medicine, Holistic Medicine. The medical establishment generally has pooh-poohed these, with chiropractors getting a lot of criticism, however, things are changing.

Here are some recent examples of changing attitudes towards Magnetic Therapy.

USA Today Article: Treating Depression with Magnetic Therapy

In the article, Magnetic Therapy Zaps Depression, writer Frank Gluck cites Psychiatrist, Dr. Robert Pollack, as giving one of his patient’s magnetic therapy when medications failed.

The treatment, called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, directed magnetic energy to areas of the brain that affect mood. There is just one slight problem, in my opinion. The course of treatment lasted seven weeks, costs $15,000, and most insurers won’t cover it.

FDA Approvals

Several recent articles say that the FDA itself is coming around to the possible benefits of Magnetic Therapy. So there….QuackWatch!

US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health

In 2012, this US government institute, which is about as credible as one could get, released an article, Effectiveness of transcranial magnetic stimulation in clinical practice post-FDA approval in the United States: results observed with the first 100 consecutive cases of depression at an academic medical center.

Even Dr. Oz is getting behind this:

Why Do I Even Write About This?

In 1984, I tore the cartilage in my knee, and over the years, the aching in my knee gradually got worse. I am physically active, running, hiking, lifting weights, doing yoga, and so on. Since I like to think outside the box, I read about Magnetic Therapy about 12 years ago and got a knee brace with magnets that seemed to help me. Then, in 2014, I tore the cartilage in my same damaged knee again.

The pain in my knee could be excruciating; however, at least in my experience, using magnet knee supports seemed to help. So that’s why I put together this article to introduce people like you, who suffer pain or injury, to new ideas on pain relief.

Magnetic therapy, after many years of skepticism, is finally getting the respect it deserves. This book on magnetic therapy explains it all.

Want to know more? The folks over at Magnetic Therapy For Idiots have put together a guide for you to read that will answer a lot of your questions.

You see it here:

The Full Guide to Magnetic Therapy

Amazon offers a number of choices. The one that I am partial to has these features:

• Breathable Elastic Comfortable Cotton Fabric
• Better Compression and Support than name brands
• 13 1200 Gauss Magnets Placed at Strategic Acupuncture Points Around Your Knee
• One Size Fits Most Legs. There is also a smaller size for those with knees less than 13 inches around
• Tourmaline, a semi-precious mineral, stores and reflects your body heat, to give healing and soothing warmth
• Ideal for athletes with knee pain
• Relieves arthritis pain

Last update on 2022-10-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Magnetic Knee Guards or Straps

Magnetic knee guards can help if you are experiencing minor knee pain and discomfort. It helps absorb some of the pressure and impact at your knee by applying concentrated compression across the joint and patellar tendon. One of the more popular knee guards you will find online is the Pro Band Sports KneedIT XM Knee Guard.

This knee guard uses magnetic therapy to assist in the relief of minor knee pain that is commonly associated with arthritis and tendonitis. It has a neoprene material band and a padded magnetic face that can be adjusted for the best fit and ultimate comfort. It can be used during sports, for work, and home, and one size usually fits most.

Click here for customer reviews of this product

History of Magnetic Knee Brace Support Sleeves

I tore the meniscus in my knee in 1984, and my knee would be sore sometimes ever since. So, I did some research in 2004 and read that magnets might have a beneficial effect on knee pain.

I sent away for a knee wrap that had magnets in it. It was made of neoprene rubber, with small magnets sewn into it. It attached to Velcro straps. And in fact, I found that when I wore it to sleep, with a really painful stiff knee, I would wake up in the morning feeling real relief.

Disadvantages of Some Neoprene Knee Sleeves and Braces

The only issue was that it was not so breathable, that is, after wearing it, my knee was sweaty, which resulted in some discomfort. Also, it had a strong tendency to slip down my leg.

So, although it was a good product that helped, it did have those drawbacks. Another thing was that it used Velcro straps. The advantage is that they allow you to adjust the tightness or looseness. On the other hand, they seem to slip in some cases, which is a factor with many knee braces and sleeves.

I did more research and noticed that most of the knee support sleeves being sold nowadays, especially on Amazon, are pretty inexpensive and don’t use magnets, which barely anyone was paying attention to. So, I found this type of knee sleeve in 2014. Its design is rather unique.

Few People Know About the Benefits of Magnetic Compression Knee Supports

When I was looking for a good magnetic compression knee brace, I looked for a sleeve that was made of cotton, not rubber. And one that had magnets of the same strength as the one that I had bought earlier.

But here’s the thing. Just because a product says it has magnets, it is important to know how many are in the knee sleeve and how strong are the magnets themselves. One further issue is that some manufacturers skimp on materials, especially the magnetic strength affects a manufacturer’s profit.

Weak magnet=bigger profit. So, when you get a magnetic knee brace, be sure to get one that has at least 13 magnets with a strength of at least 1000 gauss (the measure of magnetic strength.) The magnet should be strong enough to hold a piece of metal, such as a spoon. It is an easy test you can do yourself.

That, in a nutshell, is the story of magnetic therapy as regards to knees. Good magnets, breathable material, a reasonable amount of compression to support the knee. Those three factors can make the difference between painful knees and knees that are reasonably comfortable.

Indeed, people who have worked out a lot or are over 40 may notice sore knees. This could get worse with age; however, a knee sleeve can help.

Furthermore, magnets, with a history of use in traditional medicine, do have a following among those who look for natural solutions to knee pain.

A basic approach to knee care will include:

• Use of knee supports
• Improved diet to keep weight under control
• Supplements that support joint health
• Exercises to improve circulation and strength
• Topical ointments and salves can also bring quick temporary pain relief

Warning About Knee Braces and Magnetic Therapy

You always want to pay close attention to the warnings before you purchase any kind of magnetic knee support for your knee pain. Some will claim to be safe, but if you have a heart pacemaker or defibrillator, a magnetic brace may impair these devices.

While the pros and cons are still being reviewed, you will still find a good number of people that believe in the power of knee braces and magnetic therapy to help with their pain. So, even if there is only a minuscule possibility of pain relief, isn’t that something you will want to try?

Magnetic Therapy FAQ

What are the side effects of magnetic therapy?

Magnet treatment is a relatively safe treatment. However, some patients may report dizziness, low energy, and a decrease in blood pressure. These side effects have only happened in a small percentage of cases.

Does magnetic therapy help with arthritis?

With magnetic therapy, a static magnetic field is used to relieve pain in your knees by increasing circulation to the area. Many who have suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and arthritis back up the effectiveness of this kind of treatment.

Can the magnets help decrease inflammation?

Some new research may suggest that magnetism actually can reduce inflammation. Even the smallest and most mild magnetic field can cause tiny blood vessels in the body to dilate or constrict. This action increases blood flow and helps with inflammation. These are all critical to the body’s healing process.

What is better for arthritis? Copper or magnets?

Research has not shown that either copper or magnets are the best when it comes to arthritic pain. It was also said that neither one of these was any more effective than a placebo that was used in research. However, some still claim that copper helps regrow joint cartilage and helps cure and relieve pain along the same lines as magnetic therapy.

Is it OK to wear a knee brace all day?

Good Question! Generally speaking, wearing a knee brace for a few hours is ok. Some people also wear them at night. But usually, it’s a good idea to let your skin breathe (even though a good knee sleeve will be breathable). Having fresh air and regular blood circulation flow to and through you knee is a good idea. If you wear one for longer, the chance of rashes or other side effects is higher.