Microcurrent Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation
Original Editor - User Name
Top Contributors - Yahya Al-Razi and Angeliki Chorti
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Microcurrent Therapy (MET) is an Electromedical intervention indicated for the treatment of pain. By definition microcurrent devices stimulate the affected tissue with less than 1mA of electrical current, most commonly delivered with hand-held probes or self-adhesive electrodes that bracket the treated area. MET is a highly effective modality in the treatment of a variety of pain problems.[1]
A type of low voltage current but with stimulus intensity less than 1 milliamp or 1000 microamps and low intensity stimulation It is act at the subsensory or very low sensory level.[2]
KEY POINTS:[edit | edit source]
- Microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation (MENS) facilitated the recovery of the relative muscle dry weight, the relative muscle protein content, and the mean cross-sectional areas of muscle fibers of injured TA muscle in mice.[3]
- The number of satellite cells was increased by MENS during the regenerating phase of injured skeletal muscle.
- Decrease in the percentages of fibers with central nuclei was facilitated by MENS.
- MENS may facilitate the regeneration of injured skeletal muscles.[4]
Current specification[edit | edit source]
It is Direct or Alternating current and waveform is variety of waveforms from modified monophasic to biphasic square waves. Frequency is Range from 0.3 HZ to 50 HZ. Pulse duration: may be prolonged at the lower frequencies from 1 to 500 milliseconds.[5]
Biophysical effects[edit | edit source]
Currents below 500 microamps increase the level of ATP passing low amperage electrical current through the tissues, creates an imbalance in the number of protons on either side of the mitochondrial membrane. As the protons move from the anode to the cathode, they cross the mitochondrial membrane causing adenosine triphosphatase to produce ATP.[3]
Therapeutic effects[edit | edit source]
PromotionTissues healing:
Tissues trauma or injury affects the electrical potential of the involved cells which is called injury potential or current of injury and as a result the bioelectrical activity within the injured area is diminished and the cellular function is disrupted so, re-establishing the body's natural electrical balance which allows cell function and increases ATP supply, thus providing the metabolic energy for healing to occur . Cells are stimulated to increase their normal proliferation, migration, motility as well as Stimulation of DNA synthesis and collagen synthesis and Increase receptor level for growth factors.[6]
Analgesic effect:
Make the nerve cell membrane more receptive to neurotransmitters that will block transmission of pain and create or change the constant direct current flow of the neural tissues that may have some way of biasing the transmission of the painful stimulus then restore the biological electrical balance to facilitate tissues healing and subsequent pain control.[7]
Indications[edit | edit source]
- Acute and chronic pain
- Acute and chronic inflammation
- Sprains
- Strains
- Superficial wound healing
- Fracture healing
- Tendon and ligament healing
Contraindications[edit | edit source]
- Pain of unknown origin or undiagnosed pain
- Osteomyelitis
- Exposed metal implants as in external fixation of fractures.
Neurostimulation Device[edit | edit source]
Neurostimulation is a device that uses microcurrent stimulation to reduce pain and scar tissue (fascial distortions) by applying it to specific points on the body. It is a needleless form of acupuncture that relaxes muscles. This is very important to re-establish motor control to that area and to deal with the consequences of surgery.[8]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Iijima H, Takahashi M. Microcurrent therapy as a therapeutic modality for musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review accelerating the translation from clinical trials to patient care. Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation. 2021 Sep 1;3(3):100145.
- ↑ Ranker A, Weigl M. Microcurrent therapy–more transparency is needed in used parameters. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2021 Jul;35(7):1073-4.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ohno Y, Fujiya H, Goto A, Nakamura A, Nishiura Y, Sugiura T, Ohira Y, Yoshioka T, Goto K. Microcurrent electrical nerve stimulation facilitates regrowth of mouse soleus muscle. International journal of medical sciences. 2013;10(10):1286.
- ↑ Fujiya H, Ogura Y, Ohno Y, Goto A, Nakamura A, Ohashi K, Uematsu D, Aoki H, Musha H, Goto K. Microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation facilitates regeneration of injured skeletal muscle in mice. Journal of sports science & medicine. 2015 Jun;14(2):297.
- ↑ Shi X, Cao C, Guo P, Wen G, Lu Z, Shi J, Peng D, Huang T. More effective organics removal by amorphous MnOx assisted by micro-current than peroxymonosulfate addition: Performance and mechanism. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. 2022 Jun 1;10(3):107855.
- ↑ Simopoulos AP. An increase in the omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio increases the risk for obesity. Nutrients. 2016 Mar 2;8(3):128.
- ↑ Korelo RI, Valderramas S, Ternoski B, Medeiros DS, Andres LF, Adolph SM. Microcurrent application as analgesic treatment in venous ulcers: a pilot study. Revista latino-americana de enfermagem. 2012;20:753-60.
- ↑ Houghton PE. Clinical trials involving biphasic pulsed current, microcurrent, and/or low-intensity direct current. Advances in wound care. 2014 Feb 1;3(2):166-83.
