Microcurrent Therapy for Pain Management

Microcurrent – Non-Invasive and Painless

Did you know that your body produces its own electrical currents? In fact, everything we do is powered by electrical signals running through our bodies. From speeding up our heart when we’re in danger to healing a scraped elbow, electricity is essential for ensuring our body’s survival.  Every time we recover from a physical trauma, whether acute or chronic, our body uses electrical currents to heal the wound. And did you know each tissue has its own frequency? It’s as if our bodies are emitting thousands of radio signals all at once–pretty cool!

We have long known of bioelectricity, or the electricity created by living matter, but we have only recently begun to scratch the surface of this fascinating scientific field and its implications for health and healing. Recently, our body’s capacity to heal and to relieve pain through electricity is being harnessed in new technological innovations. One of those innovations is microcurrent therapy–a non-invasive and painless application that treats nerve and muscle pain, inflammation, and other health conditions.

How does it work?

As is the case with many health conditions, persistent pain often results from inflammation within the body. Inflammation, according to many health experts, is a disruption of the body’s natural electrical signals and which often comes in the form of disease, physical trauma, and toxins. For example, if you are suffering from chronic back pain as a result of whiplash, the impulses between the brain and the affected area may be disrupted by scar tissue; studies have shown that the low-level electrical currents can restore the body’s normal frequencies at a cellular level. As the theory goes, the therapy increases ATP (fuel for cells) and protein synthesis, an essential component for tissue repair.

Is it for me?

There are some conditions for which microcurrent therapy will be more effective. Microcurrent therapy will probably not cure your peanut allergy, but it may very well help with your chronic headaches and kidney stones. Infofit has helpfully compiled a list of conditions that may be treated by microcurrent therapy, which you can find here. Other conditions that are not listed but that can also be treated by microcurrent therapy are DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness), tennis elbow, fibrosis, postoperative and cancer-related pain. It also has implications for mental health, with studies showing that microcurrent therapy has the ability to ameliorate psychological conditions such as depression.

Are there any negative side effects?

Microcurrent therapy is largely painless and free of undesirable side effects, but it may in rare cases cause nausea and drowsiness. Populations that are recommended to not do microcurrent therapy are people with pacemakers, pregnant people, people who have uncontrolled seizures, and people with implanted pumps.

How can I access microcurrent therapy?

Many physiotherapists, massage therapists, chiropractors and other health practitioners are already using microcurrent therapy in their practice–do not hesitate to ask your healthcare professional if microcurrent therapy is right for you! Infofit Vancouver also has its own microcurrent therapy machine, which we are licensed and trained to use! If you are interested in a consultation with one of our staff, please contact us at 604-683-0785 or at [email protected].

Written by Theresa Faulder, Master in English, Certified Personal Trainer and Infofit fitness blog writer.

Works Cited

Curtis, D., Fallows, S., Morris, M., & McMakin, C. (2011). The efficacy of frequency specific microcurrent therapy on delayed onset hamstring muscle soreness. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 45(2). https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2010.081570.31

Koopman, J. S., Vrinten, D. H., & van Wijck, A. J. (2009). Efficacy of Microcurrent therapy in the treatment of chronic nonspecific back pain. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 25(6), 495–499. https://doi.org/10.1097/ajp.0b013e31819a6f3e

Lennox, A. J., Shafer, J. P., Hatcher, M., Beil, J., & Funder, S. J. (2002). Pilot study of impedance-controlled microcurrent therapy for managing radiation-induced fibrosis in head-and-neck cancer patients. International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, 54(1), 23–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0360-3016(02)02898-5

Liang, M., Wang, Q., Chen, D., Xu, D., Lin, Y., Zhang, K., Wang, X., & Mu, W. (2018). Design of portable transcranial micro current Depression Therapeutic Instrument. 2018 IEEE International Conference on Mechatronics and Automation (ICMA). https://doi.org/10.1109/icma.2018.8484731

Poltawski, L., & Watson, T. (2009). Bioelectricity and microcurrent therapy for tissue healing – A narrative review. Physical Therapy Reviews, 14(2), 104–114. https://doi.org/10.1179/174328809×405973

Poltawski, L., Johnson, M., & Watson, T. (2011). Microcurrent therapy in the management of Chronic Tennis Elbow: Pilot Studies to optimize parameters. Physiotherapy Research International, 17(3), 157–166. https://doi.org/10.1002/pri.526

Try to book 2-30 minute microcurrent sessions for the first week for pain control and healing. Subsequent treatments are accumulative in their effects and reduction of pain should hold longer with each treatment.