Soft tissue and joint manipu-lation, whether it be in the form of varying massage techniques, physical therapy or chiropractics, rarely takes into consideration the biochemical needs of the cells which constitute the tissues being manipulated. While there are many biochemical necessities that may come

into question, none can be considered more essential to normal cellular function than that of the magnesium ion, especially when it pertains to the health of muscles, joints, and the nervous system. And yet, with men obtaining less than 80 percent of their minimum magne-sium requirement and women obtaining less than 70 percent, it is no mystery why the musculoskeletal and nervous systems of the average individual are unable to function properly.2

The Role of Magnesium in Muscles, Nerves, & Soft Tissue Magnesium assists in muscle relaxation1

Magnesium is a natural antispasmodic1,6

Magnesium is effective in pain management1,3,4,7,8,9

Twitches & SpasmsAt the biochemical level, magnesium and calcium are known to act antagonistically towards eachother.1 Calcium is responsible for contractions in skeletal muscle fibers while magnesium is responsible for relaxation, with the two minerals engaged in a delicate partnership that is easily upset. However, research has shown that the calcium to magnesium ratio of 1:1 that our body once evolved with as part of the Paleolithic diet has now been replaced with unprecedented ratios ranging from 5:1 to 15:1 in modern day diets.10 Consequently, whenever there are elevated levels of intracellular calcium, a relative mag-nesium deficiency will persist. According to Dr. Carolyn Dean, M.D., world renowned magnesium expert and author of The Magnesium Miracle, when there is too much calcium and insufficient magnesium inside the cells, the resulting effects are muscle contractions, spasms, twitches, and even convulsions.1

Pain ManagementWhether it be chronic or acute, a sprain or a strain, a pull or a tear, it would be safe to assume that everyone has experienced some degree of muscle or joint pain in their lifetime, yet the role of added magnesium in managing these issues is rarely mentioned as a focal point of therapy. Administering magnesium not only decreases pain in most cases, but a magnesium deficiency is often associated with muscle pain, especially back pain.3 In cases of acute pain, magnesium given intravenously is widely recognized to have powerful analgesic effects.4,5,7,8,9 So much so, that it has been the subject of numerous clinical studies examining the extent of its ability to attenuate post operative pain following major cardiac and lumbar surgeries.5,8

Application of magnesium in chronic pain conditions is equally as effective. In one particular study, fifty patients with chronic limb pain received either 500mg of magnesium sulphate with 75mg of lignocaine, or 75mg of lignocaine alone. The duration of pain relief was on average 23 days for

the group that received the magnesium-lignocaine treatment, compared with 6 days with lignocaine alone. In another study, twelve cancer patients with neuropathic pain who had responded poorly to opioids were examined—10 of the 12 patients experienced partial or complete relief with intravenous administration of magnesium.4

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), two conditions characterized by chronic widespread pain, respond well to magnesium. Dr. Carolyn Dean, M.D, states, “A person with fibromyalgia can diminish his or her symptoms by 50 percent by taking the right amount of magnesium. This may mean IV magnesium, or more conveniently, applying magnesium oil or gel to the body. Oral magnesium supplements, along with magnesium oil or gel applied topically, should form the cornerstone of therapy.”

MAGNESIUM & THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEMApplications in Massage, Chiropractics, & Physical Therapy

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The Transdermal Route of MagnesiumSo one might ask, if magne-sium is so effective, why not simply utilize magnesium supplements? Dr. Norm Shealy, M.D., Ph.D., neurosurgeon and well known pain manage-

ment expert explains that obtaining adequate magnesium levels from supplements is notoriously difficult when it acts as a laxative. When the transit time of magnesium is less than 12 hours, absorption is seriously impaired, and it is simply excreted faster than absorbed.1

The traditional method of introducing magnesium to the body through oral supplements is substantially less effective than the transdermal route, but plays an even more critical role in applications to soft tissue. Transdermal delivery allows for the liver and stomach to be bypassed, which translates into a much greater percentage of the active ingredient making it into the bloodstream, and more specifically to the site of application. According to Mark Sircus Ac., OMD, and author of the book Transdermal Magnesium Therapy,

Dr. Shealy conducted research on sixteen individuals with low intracellular magnesium levels, whereby each were asked to do a 20 minute foot soak in conjunction with spraying their entire body once daily utilizing magnesium chloride. The result—twelve of the sixteen individuals showed substantial improvements in their intracellular magnesium levels.11

The bottom line is that most magnesium supplements on the market today are useless, not only due to the ineffective-ness of oral dosages, but also because the wrong forms of magnesium are being utilized. Daniel Reid, author of the Tao of Detox states, “The form of magnesium which the human metabolic system recognizes and assimilates most readily is magnesium chloride, the same form contained in sea water. And the simple secret to the proper administration and optimum assimilation of magnesium is to apply it transder-mally, i.e. via the skin, not as an oral supplement.”

Efficacy of transdermal delivery systems are well known in the drug industry, although this method has yet to be fully explored from a nutritional standpoint. The skin serves not only as a barrier to the outside world, but is a living, breathing organ, capable of transporting life giving minerals into the tissues.

Applications in Massage, Chiropractics, & Physical Therapy

While the benefit of magnesium to massage therapy, chiro-practics, physical therapy and other related specialties is unquestionable, the therapeutic effect of topically applied magnesium chloride is ultimately invaluable. As highlighted previously, the application of magnesium chloride to the skin produces immediate and long lasting results by correcting poor functioning cells from a biochemical stand-point. Topical magnesium chloride is most widely known as “magnesium oil” which is actually a supersaturated solution of magnesium chloride and other trace elements. Other convenient forms include gelled magnesium chloride for tissue manipulation, and evaporated magnesium chloride bath flakes for soaks, with each product offering its own unique advantages depending on the application.

“The therapeutic value of magnesium as a transdermal application reaches well beyond the potential of dietary magnesium. Transdermal therapy effectively saturates the tissues, delivering high amounts of magnesium to where we need it most—directly into circulation.”

“A very exciting addition to the magnesium family is a product loosely referred to as magnesium oil. Magnesium oil can be sprayed or rubbed on the body and is readily absorbed through the skin.” – Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D., Author of the Magnesium Miracle

MAGNESIUM & THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEMApplications in Massage, Chiropractics, & Physical Therapy

References1 Dr. Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D., The Magnesium Miracle, Ballantine Books, New York, NY, 2007.

2 Institute of Medicine, Dietary Reference Intake for Calcium, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride, National Academy Press, Washington DC, 1997.

3 Rogers SA, Depression Cured at Last, SK Publishing, Sarasota, FL, 2000.

4 Crosby V, Wilcock A, Corcoran R, “ The safety and efficacy of a single dose (500 mg or 1 g) of intravenous magnesium sulfate in neuropathic pain poorly responsive opioid analgesics in patients with cancer.” J Pain Symptom Management, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 35-39, 2000.

5 Steinlechner1 B, Dworschak1 M, Birkenberg B, Grubhofer G, Weigl M, Schiferer A, Lang T, Rajek A, “Magnesium moderately decreases remifentanil dosage required for pain management after cardiac surgery.” British Journal of Anaesthesia, vol. 96, no. 4, pp. 444-449, 2006

6 Altura BM, “Sudden-death ischemic heart disease and dietary magnesium intake: is the target site coronary vascular smooth muscle?” Med Hypothesis, vol. 8, pp. 843-848, 1979.

7 Tramer M.R., Glynn C.J., “Magnesium bier's block for treatment of chronic limb pain.” Pain, vol. 99, no. 1, pp. 235-241

8 Levaux C, Bonhomme V, Dewandre P.Y., Brichant J.F., Hans P, “Effect of intra-operative magnesium sulphate on pain relief and patient comfort after major lumbar orthopaedic surgery.” Anaesthesia, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 131-135

9 Memiş D, Turan A, Karamanlioğlu B, Süt N, Pamukçu Z, “The use of magnesium sulfate to prevent pain on injection of propofol.” Anesthesia Analgesics, vol. 95, no. 3, pp. 606-608

10 Altura B, “Magnesium: the forgotten mineral in cardiovascular health and disease.” A Gem lecture at SUNY Downstate. Alumni Today, pp. 11-22, spring 2001.

11 Dr. Norm Shealy, M.D., Ph.D., Holy Water, Sacred Oil; The Fountain of Youth. 2000