Microcurrent has been used to increase the rate of healing in injured athletes, control pain, increase the rate of fracture repair, and treat myofascial pian and dysfunction.5, 6, 7, 8 It provides subsensory current to the tissues in millionths of an ampere. Other widely used electro-therapies provide current in milliamps. One microamp (µA) equals 1/1000 of a milliamp (mA).
In a study done by Ngok Cheng, MD in rat skin, electro-stimulation of the tissues with microcurrent resulted in remarkably increased ATP concentrations, protein synthesis and membrane transport. With currents from 50 µA to 1000µA, the ATP levels were increased threefold to fivefold. With currents from 100 to 500µA, the stimulatory effects were similar. With currents exceeding 1000µA, the ATP concentration leveled, and with 5000µA, they were even reduced slightly as compared with the non-treated controls. Similar effects were noted in regard to protein synthesis. At about 500µA, there is a tremendous enhancement of protein synthesis, but when the current rose over 5000µA the trent reversed into suppression.3
Trauma affects the electrical potential of the damaged cells. The injured area has a higher electrical resistance than the surrounding tissue, decreased electrical conductance and decreased cellular capacitance, leading to impairment of the healing process and inflammation. Microcurrent applied to injured tissue supports the nuatral current flow in the tissue, allowing cells in the traumatized area to regain their normal capacitance. When microcurrent is applied, resistance is reduced, allowing bioelectricity to flow through and re-establish normal function. This process helps to initiate and perpetuate the many biochemical reactions that occur in healing.
Microcurrent also affects the injured tissue by increasing ATP production and membrane active transport and by allowing the intracellular flow of nutrients and the extracellular flow of waste materials.5, 6, 7, 8 These effects reverse the ischemic changes and counteract the reduction in ATP synthesis seen in tissues with myofascial trigger points. In addition we found that specific microcurrent frequencies affected the tissues in different ways.
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