Magnet Insoles For Heel Pain?

Do magnets relieve pain from plantar fasciitis and heel spurs?

Magnets are used for the treatment of many painful conditions. Often marketed to relieve joint pain, magnets can be found in many common accessories such as jewelry, clothes and insoles.

Magnetic Insoles

Companies have designed shoe inserts to include magnets. These magnetic insoles have been marketed to patients as a treatment of heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. While different shoe inserts are often used for the treatment of heel pain, some say the magnetic inserts are better.

Do magnetic insoles cure heel pain?
A randomized study compared patients who wore magnetic insoles with patients given a standard cushioned insole. The magnets did not improve heel pain over the standard treatment. While insoles are part of the treatment for plantar fasciitis and heel spurs, magnets do not seem to improve the success of treatment.

Despite a lack of scientific evidence supporting the effects of magnet therapy, many patients use magnets in the treatment of various medical problems such as back pain and arthritis. In the setting of heel pain, magnets do not seem to improve the results of treatment.

_Sources:

• Winemiller, MH, et al. "Effect of Magnetic vs Sham-Magnetic Insoles on Plantar Heel Pain" JAMA. 2003;290:1474-1478.