Controls in studies of magnetism

[One of the authors responds:]

We welcome Peter McCarthy's comments. As we reported in our article, the primary analysis in our study included only trials that compared magnets and a nonmagnetic placebo.¹ There was no significant difference in pain reduction between the magnet and placebo groups as measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale, which was defined as the primary outcome. The evidence does not support the use of static magnets for pain relief.