Microcurrent Electrical therapy : A Novel Physical Therapy for Pain Management
Abstract
The discovery of ion channels and detecting subtle electrical currents in the cell membranes by two German scientists, Nobel Prize awardees in 1991, transformed the pain management from traditional electrical therapy to modern bioelectric therapy or microcurrent electrical therapy (MET). In addition, MET has ability to stimulate cellular communication, physiological functions and growth. There are three contemporary applications of MET for wound healing acceleration, enhancement of rehabilitative exercise and pain management. The most of popularity of MET is its reportedly superior and longer lasting pain control effects in comparison with traditional
electrical stimulation.
References
Application of APS therapy to the human body. (n.d.). [online]. Available : http://www.apstherapy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76&Itemid=100&lang=en. (Access date : April 21, 2011).
Assimacopoulos D. (1968). "Low intensity negative electric current in the treatment of ulcers of the leg due to chronic venous insufficiency". Am J Surg. 115(5) : 683-687.
Becker RO. (1961). "The bioelectric factors in amphibian limb regeneration". J Bone Joint Surg. 43A : 643-656.
Bertolucci LE, Grey T. (1995). "Clinical comparative study of microcurrent electrical stimulation to mid-laser and placebo treatment in degenerative joint disease of the temporomandibular joint". Cranio. 13(2) : 116-120.
Brighton CT. (1981). "The treatment of non-unions with electricity". J Bone Joint Surg(Am). 63(5) : 847-851.
Carley PJ, Wainapel SF. (1985). "Electrotherapy for acceleration of wound healing: low intensity direct current". Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 66(7) : 443-446.
Cheng N, Van Hofl H, Bockx E. (1982). "The effect of electric currents on ATP generation, protein synthesis, and membrane transport in rat skin". Clinical Orthopedics. 171(1) : 264-272.
Crawford PR. (1991). "Electronic dental anaesthesis". J Can Dent Assoc. 57(6) : 497-499.
David CJ, Hill D. (2002). "Novel microcurrent treatment is more effective than conventional therapy for chronic achilles tendinopathy: Randomised comparative trial". Physiotherapy. 88(8). 471-480.
Feinstein D, Eden D. (2008). "Six pillars of energy medicine: clinical strengths of a complementary paradigm". Altern Ther Health Med. 14(1) : 44-54.
Ho RT, Jawan B, Fung ST. (1990). "Electro-acupuncture and postoperative emisis. Anaestheia". 45(4) : 327-329.
Illingworth CM, Barker AT. (1980). "Measurement of electrical currents emerging during the regeneration of amputated finger tips in children". Clin. Phys. Physiol. Meas. 1(1) : 87- 89.
Jarit GJ, Mohr KJ, Waller R, Glousman RE. (2003). "The effects of home interferential therapy on post-operative pain, edema, and range of motion of the knee". Clin J Sport Med.13(1) :16-20.
Jennifer D. Allen, Carl G. Mattacola, and David HP. (1999). "Effect of microcurrent stimulation on delayed-onset muscle soreness: A double-blind comparison". J Athl Train. 34(4) : 334-337.
Johannsen F, Gam A, Hauschild B, Mathiesen B, Jensen L. (1993). "Rebox: an adjunct in physical medicine?". Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 74(4) : 438-240.
King JE, Jacob RF, Martin JW. (1989). "Electrotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen: promising treatments for postradiation complications". J Prosthetic Dent. 62(3) : 331-334.
Kirsch LD. (2002). "The American Academy of Pain Management: A Practical Guide for Clinicians". 1st ed. Florida : Boca Raton CRC Press.
Kirsch LD. (2006). "Electrical Therapy (MET): A Tutorial. MET may yield better clinical outcomes with less current, lower frequencies, and reduced treatment time". Practical Pain Management. 6(7) : 59-64.
Kirsch LD. (2006). "Electromedical treatment of headaches". Prac Pain Man. 6(8) : 58-65.
Lambert MI, Marcus P, Burgess T, Noakes TD. (2002). "Electro-membrane microcurrent therapy reduces signs and symptoms of muscle damage". Med Sci Sports Exerc. 34(4) : 602-607.
Lee BY, Keith W, Noori AW, Glenn B. (2007). "Ultra-low microcurrent therapy: A novel approach for treatment of chronic resistant wounds". Advances in Therapy. 24(6) : 1202-1209.
Lennox AJ, Jeffrey PS, Madeline H, Janice B; Sandra JF. (2002). "Pilot study of impedance-controlled microcurrent therapy for managing radiation-induced fibrosis in head-and-neck cancer patients". Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 54(1): 23-34.
Lerner FN, Kirsh DL. (1981). "A double blind comparative study of microstimulation and placebo effect in short term treatment of the chronic back pain patient". J Chiropract. 15(11): 101-106.
M enp H, Jaakkola R, Sandstr?m M, Von Wendt L. (2004). "Does microcurrent stimulation increase the range of movement of ankle dorsiflexion in children with cerebral palsy?". Dis & Rehab. 26(11) : 669-677.
Mcleod KJ, Rubin CT. (1992). "The effect of low-frequency electrical fields on osteogenesis". J Bone Joint Surg. 74-A: 920-929.
McMakin RC. (1998). "Microcurrent treatment of myofascial pain in the hand, neck and face". Top Clin Chiropract. 5(29-35) : 73-75.
McMakin RC. (2004). "Microcurrent therapy: a novel treatment method for chronic low back myofascial pain". JBMT. 8(2) : 143-153.
McMakin RC, Gregory W, Phillips T. (2005). "Cytokine Changes with Microcurrent treatment of fibromyalgia associated with cervical spine trauma". JBMT. 9(3): 169-176.
Melzack R, Katz J. (1994). Pain : Pain measurement in persons in pain. 3rd ed. Edinburgh : Churchill Livingstone.
Melzack R, Wall PD. (1965). "Pain mechanism: a new theory". Science. 150(699) : 971-979.
Mercola MJ, Kirsch LD. (1995). "The basis for microcurrent electrical therapy in conventional medical practice". JAME. 8(2) : 107-120.
Min YK, Dong RK, Hak IL. (2009). "Therapeutic effect of microcurrent therapy in infants With congenital muscular torticollis". PM&R. 1(8) : 736-739.
Moris DM. (1992). "Electrochemical modification of tumor growth in mice". J Surg Res. 53(3): 306-309.
Nordenstrom BE. (1998). Exploring BCEC-Systems (Biologically Closed Electric Cir-cuits).1st ed. Stockholm : Nordic Medical Publications.
Paterson D. (1984). "Treatment of nonunion with a constant direct current: A totally implantable System". Orthrop Clin North Am. 15(1): 47-59.
Pennington GM, Danley DL, Sumko MH, Bucknell A, Nelson JH. (1993). "Pulsed, non-thermal,high-frequency electromagnetic energy in the treatment of grade I and grade II ankle sprains". Mil Med. 158(2) : 101-104.
Reiss A. (1991). "Electronic dental anaesthesis. Surgery without the niddle". Ont Dent. 68(10) : 13-17
Rowley BA, McKenna JM, Wolcott LE. (1974). "The use of low level electric Current for the enhancement of tissue healing". Biomed Sci Instrum.10(22) : 111-114.
Savitz DA. (1993). "Overview of epidemiology research on electric and magnetic fields and Cancer". AIHAJ. 54(4) : 197-204.
Sersa G. (1992). "Anti-tumor effect of electrotherapy alone of in combination with interleukin-2 in mice with sarcoma and melanoma tumors". Anti Cancer Drugs. 3(3) : 253-260.
Smith RB. (2001). "Is microcurrent stimulation effective in pain management' An additional Perspective". AJPM.11(2) : 62-66.
Smith RB. (2002). "Microcurrent therapies: Emerging theories of physiological information Processing". NeuroRehabilitation. 17(1) : 3-7.
Stanish WD, Lai A. (1993). New concepts of rehabilitation following anterior cruciate reconstruction. Clin Sports Med. 12(1) : 25-58.
Stiller MJ. (1992). "A portable pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) device to enhance healing of recalcitrant venous ulcers: a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial". Br J Dermatol. 127(2) : 147-154.
Tan G, Alverez JA, Jensen MP. (2006). "Complementary and alternative medicine approaches in pain management". J Clin Psycho. 62(11) : 1419-1431.
The American Heritage' Stedman's Medical Dictionary. (2004). 4th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin: Dell publishing company.
Vodovnil L. (1992). "Modified cell proliferation due to electrical currents". Med Biol Eng Comput. 30(4) : CE21-28.
Windsor RE, Lester JP, Herring SA. (1993). "Electrical stimulation in clinical practice". Physician Sportmed. 21(2) : 85-93.
Wollersheim H, Van Zwieten PA. (1993). "Treatment of raynaud's phenomenon". European Heart J. 14(2) : 67-73.
Zizic TM, Hoffman KC, Holt PA, Hungerford DS, O'Dell JR. (1995). "The treatment of Osteoarthritis of the knee with pulsed electrical stimulation". J Rheumato. 22(9) : 1757-1761.
