Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The market offers more and more products that are claimed to have medically
positive effects (like increased blood perfusion etc.) due to their magnetic
properties. The objective of this study was to investigate if blankets containing
permanent (static) magnets have a greater impact on cutaneous blood circulation
than ordinary blankets without magnets. Eight standard bred horses were used in a
cross-over study. The cutaneous temperature was presumed to reflect blood flow
in the skin and therefore thermography and local thermistors were used to indicate
changes in circulation. Baseline values were registered before the blanket was
applied. Additional measurements were made during and after removal of the
blankets. The results were compared between the groups in order to see if there
were statistically significant differences. The study did not reveal any significant
differences in local and general skin temperatures between the two study groups.
Thus, this study of a small number of horses could not support the idea that static
magnets have any effect on cutaneous blood flow.