Trion:Z Bracelets

I recently got a chance to test out Trion:Z magnetic therapy bracelets, and put together this video review:

Spotted

As mentioned in the video, I’ve seen these bracelets over the years on Nick Matthew:

And I didn’t realize it until I started researching Trion:Z for this post, but Laura Massaro also wears these:

What are these bracelets all about? According to their website:

Trion:Z magnetic therapy bracelets combine the benefits of both powerful Colantotte magnets, and negative ions. The unique polarised technology is considered by many health professionals to be an extremely powerful form of alternative therapy.

Elsewhere on the site, they say:

magnetic therapy or the use of static magnets applied to the skin has long been rumoured to relieve the symptoms of pain and stiffness

So basically, there seems to be anecdotal evidence that these bracelets help with muscle pain and stiffness, but not ironclad scientific evidence that they are effective. Nevertheless, as I mentioned in the video, I feel somewhat attached to the one I was testing. In fact, I’m still wearing it as I type this.

Update

I received unusually strong feedback from readers on this video / post. They were not happy with my mushy handling of the pseudo-scientific product claims. Actually, I can’t tell if people were unhappy with my phrasing of it, or just generally opposed to the publicizing of products that promote health benefits without having solid scientific evidence behind them. Perhaps a little from column A, a little from column B.

There’s a section on Wikipedia with a brief discussion of the efficacy of magnetic therapy bracelets. It references one meta-study that reviewed a number of individual efficacy studies. The summary conclusion:

The evidence does not support the use of static magnets for pain relief, and therefore magnets cannot be recommended as an effective treatment.

In short, the only thing these bracelets are guaranteed to do is make you look cool*

*not a guarantee

I must admit, Squash Source was slightly rattled by the comments. “Who dares to question my devotion to the Scientific Method?” I asked myself, using my most thunderous, defensive, inner voice.  “I haven’t gotten this much flak since I abducted that bus full of schoolchildren.” And so on.

I wonder why this particular product sets off peoples’ alarm bells, while squash racket models promising greater power or control, or both, through such innovations as “updated pentagonal geometry” or the like, glide through without ruffling a single feather. Won’t Squash Source readers, being uniformly Wise and Powerful, simply shrug off the excess claims of a bracelet the same way they do with unsubstantiated claims of greater power, control, grip, stability, torsion, or other factors relating to rackets and shoes? Turns out the answer is NO. Once you are dealing with purported health benefits, the scalpels come out, and your only option is to disguise yourself in a white lab coat and flee.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment.

Here are the products I mentioned in the video.

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Solo

This is the one I liked best.

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Duo

This is the Laura Massaro one.

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Maxi Loop

This is Nick Matthew’s version.