Super Charge
Sun Herald
Sunday September 7, 2008
Electromagnetic therapy hasn't always had the best image but new treatments are changing that.
Imagine being able to zap the pain of migraine or the anguish of depression. Part of a new wave of research into electromagnetic therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has produced promising results in recent Australian and overseas studies. In a 2006 trial led by Professor Paul Fitzgerald, from the Alfred and Monash University's department of psychological medicine, 130 patients suffering from depression or bipolar disorder received two weeks of regular TMS treatment. At the end of the period, 78 per cent had improved or were in a state of remission."The magnetic field is generated by a machine that has an electrical coil," explains Fitzgerald. "It generates quite a high-voltage current that is turned on and off very quickly."In the 15-minute treatment, high-density magnetic fields are used to stimulate the brain's surface via a simple coil held to the head. It is not painful and the person is awake with no anaesthetic used. Fitzgerald describes the physical effect as "rewiring the brain".In June, researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York told an American Headache Society meeting that 39 per cent of 164 patients were free of migraine pain two hours after TMS compared with 20 per cent of those using a placebo treatment. Another new kid on the electromagnetic block is pulse magnetic therapy, which is used for pain relief. It is also electronically driven, with a pulsating current passing through the magnet to the patient. "Pulse magnet therapy stimulates the nervous system, which then increases circulation and promotes the removal of waste," says Tom Langlands, a specialist in the technique. "You can use it for most injuries of the muscle and bone as well as arthritis and back pain."These therapies are not to be confused with pain-relief products such as underlays and back supports, in which a magnetic device is placed on the body. Supporters claim these devices speed tissue repair but the jury is out regarding their worth. Melbourne GP Dr Malcolm Clark says, "We don't have enough data to suggest how effective these products are. Further testing needs to be done." TMS is in clinical use in Canada and the UK and Fitzgerald believes it could become a viable treatment in Australian hospitals.
© 2008 Sun Herald