The MagnaWave company is a PEMF therapy company that has been in practice for the past 15 years, and they have made a name for themselves in the industry as a reputable producer of PEMF therapy machines. Although they certainly have a good reputation, the question remains: are PEMF therapy machines from MagnaWave truly as advanced or valuable as MagnaWave marketing materials would suggest? Before we dig into the meat of MagnaWave machines and their role in the broader range of PEMF therapy devices currently on the market, let’s take a look at the company itself.
Who Is MagnaWave?
MagnaWave is a company based in Kentucky, in the U.S. The structure of the MagnaWave company differs substantially from that of its competitors, as it does not focus entirely on production and marketing of PEMF products, but places a great deal of emphasis on education and training, in addition to machine manufacturing and delivery practices. This sets MagnaWave apart from its competitors, in that most competitors do not offer courses and other training formats to familiarize customers with the therapy adventure they are embarking upon. It should be noted, though, that a course is only included in the price of a machine for one person, and any additional staff members, family members, or individuals interested in PEMF therapy must pay for education in addition to the company’s PEMF machines.
The MagnaWave company is a family company, and is currently owned and operated by a family team, including a husband, wife, and daughter. Although the company has far more employees, the ownership and direction of the company is held by this core team of three. The company’s headquarters are in Kentucky, and the headquarters of the company act as the site of training courses and other educational efforts.
MagnaWave products are designed and manufactured in the United States, and this is one of the more significant claims to fame that the MagnaWave company has; most competitors’ products are made overseas. Although this is not necessarily a negative thing, some U.S. customers feel more comfortable purchasing products bearing a “Made in U.S.” tag. In this respect, MagnaWave is quite unique. Despite MagnaWave being set apart by virtue of its origin, being made in the United States can come along with some drawbacks, the most significant of which will be discussed below.
MagnaWave Machines
What is it that sets MagnaWave machines apart? According to the manufacturer, the biggest thing setting MagnaWave therapy apart is the quality of the machines and the availability of education for PEMF machine customers. Although it is true that MagnaWave is the only company to offer comprehensive training courses alongside their machines, we will dissect and thoroughly evaluate the MagnaWave suggestion that their machines are superior in quality to their competitors.
MagnaWave: Up Against the Competition
Putting MagnaWave products up against the competition requires you to thoroughly evaluate the product itself, the company that produces it, and other important factors, such as price and warranty and guarantee information. To provide a thorough, investigative evaluation of the MagnaWave line of PEMF machines, we have looked at the components of PEMF machines as a whole and how the MagnaWave company utilizes these components, as well as providing additional factors that commonly play a role in the decision-making process of consumers looking into PEMF therapy.
Price
Price is perhaps the most significant detractor from MagnaWave’s line of PEMF therapy machines. While many of their competitors have a bottom-tier product hovering at or near $500, MagnaWave’s lowest-tier product starts at $6,000. A $6,000 price point often accompanies the most expensive or mid range PEMF product for MagnaWave competitors, which can make it a formidable introduction to the therapy. While such a price point may seem warranted to a medical professional or other clinic owner, few individuals have such a large amount of money to drop on the lowest possible iteration of a product. If budget is at all a factor in deciding on your PEMF machine, it is highly likely that MagnaWave products will be out of the running.
Waveform
There are three standard waveforms found in PEMF therapy machines: the sine, saw tooth, and square waveforms. MagnaWave lays claim to two of these common (and effective) waveforms, though how the fusion of the two is accomplished is far less certain. According to the MagnaWave company, MagnaWave machines use both square and saw tooth waveforms during use. Some have posited that the most likely combination of both waveforms in a single machine involve pulses delivering a square waveform, and tapering off with a saw tooth waveform during each pulse.
Intensity
The intensity of MagnaWave’s PEMF therapy machines is not readily identified on the company’s site. Most materials simply suggest that, on average, MagnaWave’s machines deliver an intensity of around 500 Gauss, though they do claim that their higher powered machines deliver an intensity as high as 10,000 Gauss. For anyone unsure about the meaning and ideal level of PEMF intensity, most home PEMF therapy machines are considered low intensity machines, which are usually considered machines that operate at our under 500 Gauss. High intensity machines are considered any machines that provide 500 to 10,000 Gauss intensity levels.
Although it can seem as though the high intensity levels offered by MagnaWave’s PEMF therapy machines are, alone, enough to warrant their high price, numerous studies have determined that PEMF therapy is perfectly effective and useful when it is used in low intensities, and having a high-intensity machine does not necessarily guarantee a better or more effective PEMF therapy experience. Higher intensity machines are more often seen (and used) in medical or clinical settings, and are typically used in much shorter bursts. This is in keeping with MagnaWave’s seemingly standard application as a clinical PEMF therapy device, rather than a home use device.
Frequency
Frequency is the only truly customizable component found in MagnaWave machines, with frequencies of between 1 and 50 Hz available. This is considered on the lower end of the frequency spectrum, making standard MagnaWave machines low-frequency, high-intensity machines—a pairing that is not common among competitors. The reason behind the preference for low-frequency PEMF options (0-100 Hz, as all frequencies over 100 Hz are typically regarded as high-frequency settings) is derived from several early studies regarding PEMF therapy and its efficacy rates. Studies have suggested that the most effective frequencies for PEMF therapy are those that fall within the normal range for earth’s natural frequencies: 1-33 Hz. Higher frequencies may not be problematic, but can cause some degree of discomfort during use.
Delivery Method
The delivery method of MagnaWave machines differs from that of most home therapy machines. Although most home machines use a band, mat, or wand, MagnaWave devices utilize two rings (a butterfly ring and a large ring). Additional delivery methods can be purchased on top of the existing machine options, and include a mat (though no full-body mat is currently available) and a more wand-like applicator.
The use of rings is not uncommon in other PEMF therapy machines, but are more often seen in machines that are designed primarily for animal use—indeed, even those geared primarily toward equine use. The use of rings for animals is popular because rings are smaller, lightweight, and are easier to manipulate over the contours of an animal’s body. Whether these factors are beneficial in human use is less certain, and some might consider the lack of mat or band an unwelcome aspect of purchasing and using a MagnaWave machine.
Origin
As mentioned previously, MagnaWave products are manufactured in the United States. Although U.S.-based manufacturing can help some consumers feel more comfortable making a large, expensive purchase, manufacturing in the United States is often associated with expensive production, and the price of MagnaWave products certainly attests to the costs associated with United States manufacturing. If manufacturing practices are a prime concern for your PEMF machine consideration, MagnaWave may be an ideal match. If, however, budget is a more substantial factor in making your decision, MagnaWave’s manufacturing practices may not be quite as important and influence your decision-making quite as much.
MagnaWave Warranties
The MagnaWave company’s warranties reflect their price: machines come equipped with a 3-year unlimited warranty, followed by a 7-year limited warranty. What does this mean? For the first three years following purchase, MagnaWave will either repair or replace a defective machine for only the cost of shipping and handling and insurance to both ship the unit back to the manufacturer and ship the machine back to the customer. After that three year period, customers can remain rest assured that their machines will not cost more than $700 each year for repairs (again, not including shipping and handling fees). A ten-year warranty is a generous warranty policy, as is an extended 7-year warranty, though it warrants mentioning that the lowest priced machine comes in at $6,000, and such an extensive warranty policy is necessary to justify the cost.
The MagnaWave Guarantee
MagnaWave guarantees are actually slightly less generous than most competitors’ guarantees. While competitors typically offer 60-90 day guarantees, the MagnaWave guarantee only covers the first 30 days of MagnaWave use. In addition to the shorter period of the guarantee, MagnaWave products require a steep restocking fee of $1250 for all guarantee returns, in addition to charging credit card fees for the return, if a credit card was used as the mode of purchase. Although some competitors do charge a restocking fee, these are often a flat 10%. It is also common for competitors to avoid restocking fees altogether, and merely require customers taking advantage of a guarantee to take care of the return shipping costs.
Education
MagnaWave sets itself apart substantially from the competition for its education efforts. Although home users of PEMF therapy are highly unlikely to require any type of specialized education to use a PEMF device, practitioners who are looking for a large, industrial-grade machine may want to undergo training and education to put their clients’ minds at ease regarding their qualifications and abilities.
That being said, the nature of the machines means that MagnaWave education focuses primarily on animal use. Online and hands-on training courses prepare customers and course-takers information and education for using PEMF therapy with animals in veterinary practices and similar animal care settings, and is not designed to provide information about PEMF therapy use in people or at home. Although PEMF therapy can be used for humans and animals—and many people with home machines use them indiscriminately between humans and pets—the MagnaWave educational approach focuses entirely on PEMF animal use, and does not offer comprehensive or detailed instructions for using MagnaWave machines to treat conditions found in humans, such as depression.
MagnaWave: How Does It Stack Up?
Ultimately, while the MagnaWave line of machines may provide excellent PEMF therapy, the price point of the machines far exceeds what many home practitioners are able to procure, and the same basic therapy is available at much lower price points from other companies. While it is true that not all PEMF therapy companies are created equal, it is less true that you must spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to reap the benefits of PEMF. MagnaWave machines offer high intensity levels and low frequency levels, largely due to the intended target audience: animals (and horses in particular). While this is a common and legitimate use of PEMF therapy, home practitioners and people in search of continual use machines might find the price and animal focus of the MagnaWave company in contrast to what they are looking for in a PEMF company and experience.
For anyone in need of a home PEMF therapy machine, or an affordable machine, MagnaWave may not be the best fit; with models that cost well over $20,000, MagnaWave devices require a substantial up-front investment, and may not provide a PEMF therapy experience that is truly superlative. For value and an equal level of PEMF delivery, consumers may prefer to turn elsewhere for their PEMF therapy needs.