Effects of Acute Microcurrent Electrical Stimulation on Muscle Function and Subsequent Recovery Strategy

Bioelectric medicine: unveiling the therapeutic potential of micro-current stimulation

Bioelectric medicine (BEM) refers to the use of electrical signals to modulate the electrical activity of cells and tissues in the body for therapeutic purposes. In this review, we particularly focused on the microcurrent stimulation (MCS), because, this can take place at the cellular level with sub-sensory application unlike other stimuli. These extremely low-level currents mimic the body's natural electrical activity and are believed to promote various physiological processes. To date, MCS has limited use in the field of BEM with applications in several therapeutic purposes. However, recent studies provide hopeful signs that MCS is more scalable and widely applicable than what has been used so far. Therefore, this review delves into the landscape of MCS, shedding light on the multifaceted applications and untapped potential of MCS in the realm of healthcare. Particularly, we summarized the hierarchical mediation from cell to whole body responses by MCS including its physiological applications. Our final objective of this review is to contribute to the growing body of literature that unveils the captivating potential of BEM, with MCS poised at the intersection of technological innovation and the intricacies of the human body.

The comparison of the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and Kinesio Taping on ankle swelling in athletes with lateral ankle sprain

PURPOSE

Ankle swelling (AS) is one of the main complaints in athletes with a lateral ankle sprain (LAS) in the acute phase. Reducing AS may help the athlete to return to training faster. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Kinesio Taping® (KT) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in reducing AS in athletes with a LAS.

METHODS

Thirty-one athletes with a unilateral ankle sprain from various sports were allocated to either KT (N = 16; mean age of 24.1 years) or NMES (N = 15; mean age of 26.4 years) groups. KT was applied over the medial and lateral ankle surfaces in the Fan cut pattern for five consecutive days; however, NMES was applied to the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles for 30 min. Outcome measures to assess the extent of AS included volumetry, perimetry, relative volumetry, and the difference in both ankles' volumetry and perimetry at baseline, after the interventions, and 15 days following the treatment completion.

RESULTS

The results of the mixed model repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated no significant difference between the two groups in mean changes in outcomes over pre- and post-interventions as well as follow-up periods (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

None of the KT and NMES methods could reduce acute AS in athletes with LAS. Further studies are needed in this area of research that consider changes in treatment protocol given the variety of NMES approaches and KT applications that can be used in recovery from an ankle sprain.

Effects of microcurrent therapy in promoting function and pain management of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

INTRODUCTION

Microcurrent therapy (MCT) is a rising conservative treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Considering its potential benefits and convenience, MCT's application in those individuals with knee OA is capacious. However, no plausible clinical evidence has proved its unequivocal advantages in treating knee OA conservatively. The purpose of this study is to determine whether MCT is helpful in pain management and promoting function of knee OA and is safe in the treatment of knee OA in adult patients.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will search through MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Google Scholar from inception to 15 March 2023. Original studies will include randomised controlled trials of patients treated with MCT. Two authors will independently screen, select studies, extract data and perform risk of bias assessment. Data consistently reported across studies will be pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Heterogeneity will be evaluated using Cochrane's Q statistic and quantified using I² statistics. Graphical and formal statistical tests will be used to assess for publication bias.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval will not be needed for this study as the data will be extracted from already published studies. The results of this review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at conferences.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42022319828.

Physiological effects of microcurrent and its application for maximising acute responses and chronic adaptations to exercise

Microcurrent is a non-invasive and safe electrotherapy applied through a series of sub-sensory electrical currents (less than 1 mA), which are of a similar magnitude to the currents generated endogenously by the human body. This review focuses on examining the physiological mechanisms mediating the effects of microcurrent when combined with different exercise modalities (e.g. endurance and strength) in healthy physically active individuals. The reviewed literature suggests the following candidate mechanisms could be involved in enhancing the effects of exercise when combined with microcurrent: (i) increased adenosine triphosphate resynthesis, (ii) maintenance of intercellular calcium homeostasis that in turn optimises exercise-induced structural and morphological adaptations, (iii) eliciting a hormone-like effect, which increases catecholamine secretion that in turn enhances exercise-induced lipolysis and (iv) enhanced muscle protein synthesis. In healthy individuals, despite a lack of standardisation on how microcurrent is combined with exercise (e.g. whether the microcurrent is pulsed or continuous), there is evidence concerning its effects in promoting body fat reduction, skeletal muscle remodelling and growth as well as attenuating delayed-onset muscle soreness. The greatest hindrance to understanding the combined effects of microcurrent and exercise is the variability of the implemented protocols, which adds further challenges to identifying the mechanisms, optimal patterns of current(s) and methodology of application. Future studies should standardise microcurrent protocols by accurately describing the used current [e.g. intensity (μA), frequency (Hz), application time (minutes) and treatment duration (e.g. weeks)] for specific exercise outcomes, e.g. strength and power, endurance, and gaining muscle mass or reducing body fat.

Editorial: New Training Strategies and Evaluation Methods for Improving Health and Physical Performance

Physical activity is among the most effective methods for improving health, body composition, and physical function, and its practice is suitable for every population [...].

Self-Rated Recovery and Mood Before and After Resistance Training and Muscle Microcurrent Application

Background

Resistance training (RT) can offer beneficial physiological and psychological effects. The regular continuation of this exercise can be accomplished by improving the recovery and mood after a workout. Frequency-specific microcurrent (microstimulation) might offer a solution here as it has been shown to improve physical injuries, mood state, and sleep. However, knowledge is lacking about the impact of microstimulation after RT on said parameters. The present study aimed to test the effects of RT and muscle-microstimulation on mood and physical recovery in healthy men after performing conventional deadlifts, which is a type of RT.

Methods

The study was conducted according to a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, and two-way crossover study. Twenty participants naïve to microstimulation (MS) engaged in RT twice on separate days. They were randomized to receive MS on 1 day and no microstimulation (Sham-MS) on another day. Before and after the workout and after their treatment (MS or Sham-MS), participants self-rated their mood state and mental and physical exhaustion levels.

Results

Findings showed that MS increased the self-ratings of well-rested and sociable and, most importantly, reduced the feeling of exercise-induced exhaustion. There were no MS effects on ratings of feeling sad, happy, or exhausted, although the workout, independent of MS, negatively influenced the level of exhaustion.

Conclusion

The combination of enhanced sociableness, reduced fatigue, and exercise-induced exhaustion after a workout, followed by microstimulation, has important implications for professional sporters and nonprofessionals who try to get the best result after a workout. Future studies using a double-blind approach including different types of exercises, different durations of programs, and both sexes can shed more light on the full potential of microstimulation after a workout on mood state and exercise-induced exhaustion.

Efficacy of Low-frequency Monophasic Pulsed Microcurrent Stimulation Therapy in Undermining Pressure Injury: A Double-blind Crossover-controlled Study

Objectives:

This double-blind crossover-controlled trial aimed to verify the effect of electrical stimulation therapy on pressure injuries with undermining.

Methods

: In this trial, we compared the healing rates between a sham period and a treatment period using monophasic pulsed microcurrent therapy. The participants were randomly assigned to the sham or treatment group and received stimulation for 2 weeks. All the participants, physical therapists, and researchers were blinded to the allocation. For the main analysis, data on the effect of the intervention on changes in weekly healing and contraction rates of the wound areas, including undermining, were analyzed based on a two-period crossover study design. The intervention effect was estimated by examining the mean treatment difference for each period using Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test.

Results

: The reduction of the entire wound area, including the undermining area, resulted in significantly higher healing and contraction rates in the treatment group (overall wound area reduction rate: contraction rate, P=0.008; period healing rate, P=0.002).

Conclusions

: Electrical stimulation therapy for pressure injuries, using conditions based on the findings of an in vivo culture study, was effective in reducing the wound area.