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Intro: If you've ever worn bad shoes, you know what I mean. Almost everyone gets foot pain at sometime or another and it can last for weeks. What can you do about it? Some people say wearing magnetic insoles in your shoes helps. Doctors at Mayo Clinic did a study to find out whether or not that's true.
| Video | Audio |
| Total running time 1:21 | DURING HER LUNCK BREAK, SHARON RYG LIKES TO GET SOME EXERCISE WITH A FEW LAPS AROUND THE OFFICE. BUT ... |
Sharon Ryg Has Foot Pain |
"I STOPPED WALKING BECAUSE MY FEET HURT. IT WAS MAINLY THE HEEL OF THE FOOT, BUT IT EXTENDED THROUGH THE WHOLE FOOT." |
| VO: Dr. Winemiller | DR. MARK WINEMILLER SAYS FOOT PAIN IS VERY COMMON. |
Mark Winemiller, M.D. Mayo Clinic Physical Medicine |
"FOOT PAIN IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS. WEAR AND TEAR. GRAVITY HAPPENS. AND WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT." |
Standup Vivien Williams Reporting |
SO HE DID A STUDY TO SEE IF THE TYPE OF MAGNETIC INSOLES THAT YOU CAN BUY AT THE DRUG STORE FOR ABOUT 15 TO 25 BUCKS A PAIR, HELP REDUCE FOOT PAIN. |
| Mark Winemiller, M.D. | "THIS IS THE MAGNETIC AREA IN THE INSOLES." |
| AS A STUDY PARTICIPANT, SHARON WAS PUT IN ONE OF TWO GROUPS: ONE THAT WORE MAGNETIC INSOLES OR ONE THAT WORE IDENTICAL BUT NON-MAGNETIZED ONES. | |
| Sharon Ryg | "WHAT I HAD TO DO WAS WEAR THE INSOLES THAT THEY PUT IN MY SHOES FOR I BELIEVE IT WAS EIGHT WEEKS." |
| AT THE END OF THE EIGHT WEEKS SHARON'S FEET ... . | |
| Sharon Ryg | "WERE PROBABLY 90 TO 100 PERCENT BETTER." |
| BUT NOT BECAUSE OF THE MAGNETS. YOU SEE, SHARON WORE NON-MAGNETIC INSOLES DURING THE STUDY. AND HER GROUP HAD THE SAME DEGREE OF PAIN RELIEF AS THE GROUP WEARING THE MAGNETS. | |
| Mark Winemiller, M.D. | "THEREFORE OUR CONCLUSION WAS THAT THE MAGNETS DIDN'T PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF PAIN RELIEF." |
| SHARON'S FOOT PAIN LIKELY IMPROVED ON IT'S OWN AND BECAUSE OF THE CUSHIONING OF THE INSOLES. NOT THE MAGNETS. | |
| Sharon Ryg | "MY FEET ARE FINE." |
| FINE AND WALKING DURING HER LUNCH BREAK AT WORK ONCE AGAIN. | |
| FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS. |
Tag: Being able to walk during breaks at work means a lot to Sharon. It helps break up the day and the exercise makes her feel good.
Dr. Winemiller says that while magnetic insoles don't seem to help foot pain, they're not harmful either. He says there's a lot to learn about the healing power of magnets, and there are many studies underway to do so. Research shows that certain types of magnets may be helpful in the healing process. For more information, log onto our Web site at...
STATIONS: Per the licensing agreement, please provide a link from your station's Web site to www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge or voice tag "mayoclinic.org/medical-edge" for more information.
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