Microcurrent therapy is an emerging technology, used to treat pain. Let’s discuss the advantages and possible disadvantages of microcurrent therapy.
We will also explain the benefits and side effects of this technology.
In conclusion, we will address the pros and cons of microcurrent therapy for pain management.
How does microcurrent therapy work?
Microcurrent therapy is an elegant and simple approach to treating pain. Here is a brief introduction to the treatment from Scientific American:
In November 2009, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) published research on the effectiveness of microcurrent therapy in a small group of chronic pain patients. When compared with a placebo, microcurrent therapies produced significant improvements in pain intensity, sleep quality, and overall patient satisfaction. Moreover, these benefits were maintained for 7-12 months following the initial treatment with microcurrents.
The UCSF researchers trained 68 patients on how to use microcurrents and were able to achieve similar success rates to traditional pain therapies. The study was funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
Does microcurrent work?
The last few years have seen a surge in research into microcurrent therapy (MCT), with new studies showing that MCT is effective at reducing pain and improving function in patients suffering from chronic pain.
So what is MCT? It’s a form of acupuncture where a small amount of electricity is passed through electrodes to the skin. Although it sounds simple — just an electric current passing through electrodes — it has been proven to be effective in treating many forms of chronic pain including neuropathic pain, neurogenic pain, spinal cord injury, osteoarthritis, and arthritis. There are four main types of MCT:
- Electromyography (EMG) – involves exposing the patient to high-frequency electrical stimulation to stimulate specific muscles using electrodes implanted into muscle groups such as calves, ulnae, and axial bones (see figure below). This type of MCT can be used for acute relief of acute or chronic muscle pain and sciatica.
- Electroacupuncture – Involves applying low-frequency electrical stimulation over acupuncture points on the skin using electrode needles inserted into specific muscle groups (see figure below). This type of MCT is used for acute relief of acute or chronic muscle pain and sciatica.
- Acupressure – Involves applying low-frequency electrical stimulation over acupuncture points on the skin using electrode needles inserted into specific muscle groups (see figure below). This type of MCT is used for acute relief of acute or chronic muscular pain and sciatica but also for spinal cord injuries or for conditions involving bone growth effects such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
The main advantage over other forms of treatment described above is that it does not require sedation, which can be problematic in some settings because it can mask symptoms caused by other underlying conditions such as depression, anxiety, etc. The main disadvantage is better compliance: patients must be willing to apply their own body heat to get results because they must turn off their brain — which makes MCT vs tens seem less appealing than other forms like TENS therapy alone.
Side effects of microcurrent therapy
There are a lot of microcurrent devices on the market and a lot of people claim their device is going to help you.
- Pain is not specific to some important sites.
It may be that microcurrent therapy can do nothing for your pain at all (and then again, it may be that microcurrent therapy can improve your pain). This isn’t the only possible outcome of the treatment; there are many other potential outcomes as well, including the possibility that your pain will get better or worse before it gets better.
- Microcurrent therapy does not work for all types of pain.
There are some types of pain that might be helped by microcurrent therapy (or vice versa). But just because something works for one type of pain doesn’t mean it works for all types of pain or vice versa (there are some special cases where this is true, but these cases aren’t common). The same goes for microcurrent therapy—there are certain situations where it might work better than other medical therapies. There are also some situations where this isn’t true at all. There is no way to determine exactly what will help someone with any type of pain without trying them out first! So if you are having pain it makes sense to try a natural option instead of taking pills that could lead to addiction. Right?
Microcurrent vs TENS
Microcurrent therapy (also sometimes referred to as electro-acupuncture or electro-therapeutic acupuncture) uses focused electrical current to stimulate or suppress pain receptors in the skin and other tissues.
Tens, on the other hand, use a pulsing current to numb or activate muscles.
You may know that TENS therapy is used for various neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. Microcurrent therapy and TENS therapy are both used to help with chronic pain.
Microcurrent therapy has been used for decades to help treat various types of pain, including back pain, arthritis pain, and neuralgias such as sciatica. The FDA has approved microcurrent for use in chronic low back pain (CLBP).
It is thought that microcurrent could be an effective treatment option for patients with CLBP who do not respond well to conventional treatments like narcotics, injections, or surgery.
Conclusion
Summary:
We have had really positive results with a number of our patients. Just the value of having an option other than pills that could become addictive is enough reason to try microcurrent therapy for whatever pain symptoms you are having. We will discuss your pain and be sure to help you make the best decision for you and your pain.
Microcurrent therapy uses tiny electrodes placed on the skin to deliver electrical impulses to the nerve endings. These impulses are supposed to ease inflammation and reduce pain. The current is delivered in pulses ranging from no more than 0.1 to 1 volt per second (as compared to tens or hundreds of volts). The frequency can vary within the range of tens-to-millivolts (0.1-1) depending on what aspect of pain you are treating.
Microcurrent therapy has been around for more than 40 years now, but its use has increased dramatically in recent years due in part to new studies proving that it offers relief for people suffering from severe chronic pain.
Not only is microcurrent therapy an effective pain management method, but it also has lots of other medical benefits that can help improve people’s health and quality of life.
We are excited about the results our patients have been getting with this amazing therapy. Give us a call and we can share more with you and help you to get an appointment so that we can determine if this therapy or a combination of this therapy with some of our other highly effective chiropractic options.
