Research: Knowledge vs Conmen



Attempt to aid fat loss and contouring



 



 



Microcurrent has been the topic of many studies. The current research suggests the use of microcurrent can: increase the effectiveness of topical treatments (de et al., 2011), decrease healing time (Sugimoto et al., 2012), increase satellite cell proliferation when combined with acupuncture (Takaoka et al., 2007), improve neuro-muscular conductivity, general microcirculation and cerebral circulation (Lazarenko & Gerasimenko, 2011), increased motor function of children suffering from cerebral palsy (Ukhanova & Gorbunov, 2011) (Ukhanova, Gorbunov, & Ivanova, 2011), aide in recovery of chronic periodontitis(Gossrau et al., 2011), reduce bacterial growth on catheters (Gabi et al., 2011), aide control of diabetes mellitus and hypertension (Lee et al., 2009),reduces torticollis in infants (Kim, Kwon, & Lee, 2009)and reduces pain associated with SCI (Tan et al., 2006). However, it is not effective for reducing the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy (Gossrau et al., 2011) and there is debate as to whether microcurrent is useful for reducing the pain associated with delayed onset muscle soreness (Curtis, Fallows, Morris, & McMakin, 2010), (Allen, Mattacola, & Perrin, 1999).



Attempt to reduce eye bags



Despite microcurrent being used as the intervention for a variety of complains, the research is done on vastly different tissue and for different reasons with rarely more than one article on the same topic. This is indicated by a quick search of ‘microcurrent’ in PubMed yielding 57 papers whilst ‘tens wound healing’ received 41 possibilities. This indicates microcurrent has been researched in many different fields but not in depth. This causes a lack of comparison between studies to identify flaws in research technique and quality of data therefore making an informed opinion more difficult.



Microcurrent gloves for massage

Despite the low number of research articles, the ones produced were often randomised control trials with adequate numbers of participants and no perceivable cause for conflict of interest. As microcurrent shouldn’t be felt by the patient it is possible to do at least a single blind; however, few progressed this to a double or triple blind. The majority of research was published post 2007 with only two papers published before 1990. This indicates the techniques and equipment used for the majority of research should have been done with modern, accurate and precise machines making the results more plausible. This also indicates the research done on microcurrent is quite new and so the research had little previous data to guide them with ideas and protocol, causing a reduction in trustworthy data. With electrotherapy becoming more popular as the machine become more accessible there is sure to be an increase in the amount of research done on microcurrent.

Acupuncture for microcurrent



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images

http://www.joydeals.com.my/October-Phytomedics-RM39.90-deals-d-26    accessed 04/04/2012

http://www.zone3therapies.com.au/microcurrent.html     accessed 04/04/2012

http://spinehappy.com/acupuncture.html           accessed 04/04/2012

http://www.fimage.eu/en/product/3215     accessed 04/04/2012

Reference:

Allen, J. D., Mattacola, C. G., & Perrin, D. H. (1999). Effect of microcurrent stimulation on delayed-onset muscle soreness: a double-blind comparison. J Athl Train, 34(4), 334-337.

Curtis, D., Fallows, S., Morris, M., & McMakin, C. (2010). The efficacy of frequency specific microcurrent therapy on delayed onset muscle soreness. [Randomized Controlled Trial]. J Bodyw Mov Ther, 14(3), 272-279. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2010.01.009

de, G. d. G. F. O., Foglio, M. A., de Carvalho, J. E., Santos, G. M., Testa, M., Passarini, J. R., Jr., . . . Mendonca, F. A. (2011). Effects of the Topical Application of Hydroalcoholic Leaf Extract of Oncidium flexuosum Sims. (Orchidaceae) and Microcurrent on the Healing of Wounds Surgically Induced in Wistar Rats. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2011, 950347. doi: 10.1155/2011/950347

Gabi, M., Hefermehl, L., Lukic, D., Zahn, R., Voros, J., & Eberli, D. (2011). Electrical microcurrent to prevent conditioning film and bacterial adhesion to urological stents. [Evaluation Studies

In Vitro]. Urol Res, 39(2), 81-88. doi: 10.1007/s00240-010-0284-3

Gossrau, G., Wahner, M., Kuschke, M., Konrad, B., Reichmann, H., Wiedemann, B., & Sabatowski, R. (2011). Microcurrent transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation in painful diabetic neuropathy: a randomized placebo-controlled study. [Randomized Controlled Trial]. Pain Med, 12(6), 953-960. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2011.01140.x

Kim, M. Y., Kwon, D. R., & Lee, H. I. (2009). Therapeutic effect of microcurrent therapy in infants with congenital muscular torticollis. [Controlled Clinical Trial]. PM R, 1(8), 736-739. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2009.06.008

Lazarenko, N. N., & Gerasimenko, M. (2011). [The application of multichannel electrostimulation and nivalin electrophoresis for the rehabilitative treatment of the patient following plastic surgery in the facial region]. Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult(5), 39-44.

Lee, B. Y., Al-Waili, N., Stubbs, D., Wendell, K., Butler, G., Al-Waili, T., & Al-Waili, A. (2009). Ultra-low microcurrent in the management of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and chronic wounds: report of twelve cases and discussion of mechanism of action. [Case Reports]. Int J Med Sci, 7(1), 29-35.

Sugimoto, M., Maeshige, N., Honda, H., Yoshikawa, Y., Uemura, M., Yamamoto, M., & Terashi, H. (2012). Optimum microcurrent stimulation intensity for galvanotaxis in human fibroblasts. [Evaluation Studies]. J Wound Care, 21(1), 5-6, 8,10; discussion 10-11.

Takaoka, Y., Ohta, M., Ito, A., Takamatsu, K., Sugano, A., Funakoshi, K., . . . Maeda, E. (2007). Electroacupuncture suppresses myostatin gene expression: cell proliferative reaction in mouse skeletal muscle. [Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't]. Physiol Genomics, 30(2), 102-110. doi: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00057.2006

Tan, G., Rintala, D. H., Thornby, J. I., Yang, J., Wade, W., & Vasilev, C. (2006). Using cranial electrotherapy stimulation to treat pain associated with spinal cord injury. [Randomized Controlled Trial

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.]. J Rehabil Res Dev, 43(4), 461-474.

Ukhanova, T. A., & Gorbunov, F. E. (2011). [Micro-current reflexotherapy in the rehabilitative treatment of the speech function disorders in children with cerebral palsy]. [Randomized Controlled Trial]. Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult(1), 3-6.

Ukhanova, T. A., Gorbunov, F. E., & Ivanova, V. V. (2011). [Reflexotherapy combined with cortexin in the complex treatment of speech disorders in patients with cerebral palsy]. [Controlled Clinical Trial]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova, 111(8 Pt 1), 19-22.