Do magnetic fields influence soft tissue wound healing?–A preliminary communication.

This research investigates whether magnetic fields have any significant effect on the healing of soft tissue wounds, using experiments on rats as a basis for study. Essentially, the study found no notable differences in the healing process or outcome between the group that was exposed to a magnetic field and the control group.

Research Methods

• The experiment involved a total of 160 Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were divided into two equal groups; one group was treated with a magnetic foil, whereas the other group was given a dummy or control dressing.
• On each rat, a linear incision of 2.5 cm or a circular skin defect of 1 cm was made, strategically over the mid-dorsal spine.
• Over a period of 14 days, researchers monitored the healing progress at intervals of three, seven, ten, and fourteen days.
• In the case of linear wounds, their tensile strength was measured using a tensiometer. Open defects, on the other hand, were measured, excised, and assayed for collagen content.

Results

• In both groups, researchers noted an increase in wound tensile strengths and a decrease in size of open wounds, along with an increase in hydroxyproline – an amino acid involved in collagen production.
• However, upon comparing both groups, researchers found no statistically significant differences between the wounds treated with a magnetic field and those in the control group.

Conclusions

• While the magnetic foil is easy to apply and was thought to potentially aid in healing due to historically anecdotal evidence, the research shows it had no significant impact on the healing process as compared to the control group.
• This study’s findings, therefore, suggest that the use of magnetic fields, at least in the manner provided by the described magnetic foil, may not influence soft tissue wound healing significantly.