Magneto therapy is one of the basic physiotherapeutic procedures. The basic form, application of static magnetic field (the permanent magnet), has been used since time immemorial as one of the natural healing sources. However, only the coming of electronics and powerful switching elements enables rapid development of low-frequency pulse magnet therapy. The effects of which is several times higher than those of the static magnetic field. The recently performed studies, imply that therapy performed by means of pulse electromagnetic field is up to 100 times more effective than the application of stationary magnetic field. That is why the pulse magneto therapy is nowadays becoming widely used physiotherapeutic method. With some conditions (e.g. chronic pains in degenerative articular diseases) this method has proven successful as therapy with long-lasting therapeutic effect even when other therapeutical methods failed. Pulse magneto therapy can be very effective in case of correct indication and application. It can also be recommended for use in combination with other therapy methods such as pharmacotherapy, the effects of which are usually supported by magneto therapy. That is why magneto therapy should neither be left out in case of comprehensive approach to treatment, nor given as preference of monotherapy. The latest findings about physiological response of the organism to the electromagnetic field imply the following effects of magneto-therapy: • analgesic effect • antiedematous effect • antiphlogistic effect • trophic effect (acceleration of healing and growth) • myorelaxation and spasmolytic effect • vasodilation. The following chapters contain brief explanation of physical background of magneto therapy and physiological mechanisms of its effect with emphasis on application in individual fields of medicine.
 Analgesic effect, • Antiphlogistic effect, • Trophic effect (acceleration of healing and growth), • Myorelaxation and spasmolytic effect, • Vasodilation. • Antiedematous effect,
Analgesic effect The analgesic effect of magneto therapy applies in most painful states of muscular as well as articular aetiology. Detailed description of this effect is quite complicated; its physiological effects have been specified in recent years. According to these findings, the analgesic effect of magneto therapy is accounted for by increased secretion of endogenous opioids caused by myorelaxation, antiphlogistic and antiedematous effects and maybe also the impact on presynaptic inhibition of nociceptive signals at the level of the medullary dorsal horns. The treatment should be combined with aimed pharmacotherapy, manual treatment and relaxation therapy, at least in the initial stage.
