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Math 1030 Project 2

Preliminary Stntlstlcal Project about Magnets and Pnln Relief

Is it possible that magnetic fields can reduce pain? A fascinating study by Dr. Carlos Ynllbona
suggests it is.
Uackground

Magnetic fields have been shown to have an effect on living tissue as early as the 1930's. Plants
have been shown to have an improved growth rate when raised in a magnetic field (Mericle et al.,
1964). More recently, doctors and physical therapists have used either static or fluctuating
magnetic fields to aid in pain management, most commonly for broken bones. In the case study
presented here, Carlos Yallbona and his colleagues sought to answer the question "Can the
chronic pnin experienced by postpolio patients be relieved hy magnetic fields applied directly
over an identified pain trigger point?"
.'I

Mericle, R. P. et nl. "Plant Growth Responses" in: Biological effects ofmagneticflelds. New
York: Plenium Press 1964. pl83-195.
Vall bona, Carlos ct. al., "Response of pain to static Magnetic fields in post polio patients, n double
blind Pilot study" Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Vol 78, American congress
of rehabilitation medicine, p 1200-1203.

Experhncntal Design
Summary

Patients experiencing post-polio pain syndrome were recruited. Half of the patients were treated
with an active magnetic device and half were treated with an inactive device. All patients rated
their pain before and after application of the device
Details

The experimenters recruited 50 patients who not only had post-polio syndrome but also reported
muscular or arthritic pain. These patients had significant pain for at least 4 weeks and had not
taken any painkmers or anti-inflammatories for at least 3 hours before the study. The subjects all
had a trigger point or painful region and had a body weight of less than 140% of the predicted
weight for their age and height, and had a trigger point or circumscribed painful area.
The magnets and placebos (described below) were supplied in equal numbers from Bioflex. Each
magnet or placebo was placed in number coded envelopes and delivered according to its shape.
The code for placebos and magnets was not broken until the end of the study.
One site of reported pain was evaluated and a trigger point for this pain was found by palpitation.
The patient was asked to subjectively grade pain at the trigger point under palpitation on a scale
from 1 to 10 (1 is the least pain, increasing to 10).

Following the initial pain assessment, an envelope containing a device was randomly selected
from the box containing both active und inactive devices. This device was applied to the pain area
for 45 minutes and then removed. The patient then evaluated his or her pain again at the region or
trigger point. This second pain rating is the score analyzed here.

Mntel'inls
The magnets used in the study were Bioflex magnets. The magnetic field consists of
concentrically arrnnged circles of alternating magnetic polarity. Seventy active devices and
seventy identical inactive devices were used.

Dntn

Active Magnets
Post

Pre

Plncebos
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Post

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Math 1030

(Work In QI"OllpS or lwo lo rour.)

Project 2

Magnets & Pain Relief

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Compare the mean, range, and di stribution (graphing both a double histogram using relative
frequency and box plots) of the pretest for the active magnet group and the placebo group. Tell
why you think the groups ~p~ea~tR he s~milar or different.
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Placebo: mean == 1.\n 1\ - ~
2.'S~CA6?-~Active Magnet: mean == 2J1{L~ ~,W!
range= -\Q-]-o:) \\\~0(.,\- ~
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Compare the mean, range, and distribution (using both histograms and box plots) of the I> :t-tcs~

for the active magnet group and the placebo group. Tell why you think the outcomes appear to be
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similar or different.
Placebo: mean== \1'1-}z.l .:
Active Magnet: mean==

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range ==

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Calculate the "pnin relief," i.e. the chnnge between the initial pain and thnt reported nftcr the
treatment. Explain how you calculated the difference and what the numbers mean. Compare the
mean, range, and distribution (using both histograms and box plots) of the chnnge for the active
magnet group and the placebo group. Tell why you think the outcomes appear to be similar or \
~
different.

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Active Magnet: menn = --L..::~-=


range = lo- 0 -

limite
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to p-wp le Nt+h po~rpon o
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Edith I. Solorio
MATH 1030

Project Z Reflection
Based on the statistics found in this study, I believe they support the argument
that active magnets do help decrease pain. The study is only limited to those people
with post-polio pain, we're not sure if this type of treatment could help decrease
other types of pain, which would be worth finding out. I think this is a good study
because it proved its purpose. The statistics worked in favor of the hypothesis, which
was the whole point.

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