Short answerProbably not. In a trial with dummy devices, magnetic and copper bracelets did no better than the dummies.

Evidence grade

Does not helpNot enough evidenceHelps a littleGood evidence

Probably does not help

What it is

Copper bracelets and magnetic wrist straps are sold to ease joint pain and stiffness. The idea is that copper is absorbed through the skin, or that a magnetic field eases pain.

What the research shows

gave 45 people with osteoarthritis four devices in turn over 16 weeks. They were a standard magnetic wrist strap, a weak magnetic strap, a strap with no magnet, and a plain copper bracelet. Neither the people nor the researchers knew which was which. Pain, stiffness, physical function and use of pain medicine did not differ between the devices. The authors concluded that the bracelets are generally ineffective, and that any benefit people feel is most likely a placebo effect.

One pain measure did lean towards the real magnetic strap, but the researchers did not adjust for the many comparisons they made, so a chance result is likely. The trial was small, so a modest benefit cannot be fully ruled out.

Risks and effort

The devices caused no important side effects in the trial. Copper can leave a green mark on the skin, which is harmless. The main drawback is the risk that a person puts off treatments that do work.

What usually works instead

Exercise and strength work, weight loss where that applies, and simple pain relief have the best evidence for arthritis. See Does exercise work for knee arthritis?.

Questions people ask

Why do so many people say their bracelet helps?

People often buy a device when pain is at its worst. Pain then eases on its own, and the device gets the credit. Belief that something will help can also change how pain feels.

Does this apply to rheumatoid arthritis?

This page covers osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis needs medical treatment to protect the joints, and a bracelet is not a substitute.

Are magnetic mattresses or knee wraps different?

The trial tested a wrist strap. It does not tell us about other magnetic products.

Is it harmful to wear one?

Not in this trial. The risk is in relying on it instead of care that works.

Sources

Select a source to read what the study or guideline found, in plain words, with a link to the original.

Sources

Randomised trial

1Crossover trial of magnetic and copper bracelets

Who and when. Richmond, Brown, Campion, Porter, Klaber Moffett, Jackson, Featherstone and Taylor, published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine in 2009.

What they did. A British trial gave 45 people with osteoarthritis four devices in turn over 16 weeks. They were a standard magnetic wrist strap, a weak magnetic strap, a strap with no magnet, and a plain copper bracelet. Neither the people nor the researchers knew which was which.

What they found. Pain, stiffness, physical function and use of pain medicine did not differ between the devices. One pain measure leaned towards the real magnetic strap, but the researchers did not adjust for the many comparisons they made, so a chance result is likely. No important side effects occurred.

What it means. The authors concluded the bracelets are generally ineffective and any benefit is most likely a placebo effect. The trial was small, so a modest benefit cannot be fully ruled out.

Richmond SJ, Brown SR, Campion PD, Porter AJL, Klaber Moffett JA, Jackson DA, et al. Therapeutic effects of magnetic and copper bracelets in osteoarthritis: a randomised placebo-controlled crossover trial. Complement Ther Med. 2009;17(5-6):249-256. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2009.07.002

Read the trial →

Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Next review due October 2027.