• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2020

Purpose : The purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine the effects of microcurrent on inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases. Methods : Domestic databases (RISS, NDSL, KISS, DBpia, and Kmbase) were searched for studies that conducted clinical trials associated with microcurrent and its impact on inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases. A total of 606 studies published between 2002 and 2019 were identified, with 8 studies satisfying the inclusion data. The studies were classified according to patient, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO). The search outcomes were items associated with blood component, pain, and function. The 8 studies that were included in the study were evaluated using R meta-analysis (version 4.0). The quality of 7 randomized control trials was evaluated using Cochrane risk of bias (ROB). The quality of 1 non-randomized control trial was evaluated using risk of bias assessment tool for non-randomized studies (RoBANS). Effect sizes were computed as the corrected standard mean difference (SMD). A random-effect model was used to analyze the effect size because of the high heterogeneity among the studies. Egger's regression test was carried out to analyze the publishing bias. Results : The following factors had a large effect size involving microcurrent on inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases: blood component (Hedges's g=-2.46, 95 % CI=-4.20~-0.73), pain (Hedges's g=3.51, 95 % CI=2.44~4.77), and function (Hedges's g=3.06, 95 % CI: 1.53~4.58). Except for function (t=1.572, p=.191), Egger's regression test showed that the publishing bias had statistically significant differences. Conclusion : This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of microcurrent on inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases in terms of blood component, pain, and function. However, due to the small sample sizes used in the included studies, the results of our study should be interpreted cautiously, especially considering the publishing bias.

• Clinical Pain
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.80-89
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• 2020

Objective: We compared the regenerative effects of microcurrent therapy (MT) according to the type of electric current, which were direct current microcurrent therapy (DCMT) and alternating current microcurrent therapy (ACMT) on atrophied calf muscle in cast-immobilized rabbit. Method: Rabbits were allocated into control group (sham MT), ACMT group, and DCMT group. Before starting treatment, right gastrocnemius (GCM) muscle was immobilized by cast for 2 weeks. Compound muscle action potential of tibial nerve in nerve conduction study, circumference of calf muscle using a ruler, and thickness of medial and lateral GCM muscle measured by ultrasound, cross sectional area (CSA), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) ratios (%) of muscle fibers were measured on the immunohistochemical analysis. Results: The mean atrophic changes (%) in right medial and lateral GCM muscle thickness, right calf circumference, and amplitude of CMAP of the right tibial nerve in ACMT group and DCMT group were significantly lower than those in control group, respectively (p<0.05). The mean CSA (μm²) of type I and type II and PCNA ratios (%) of medial and lateral GCM muscle fibers in ACMT group and DCMT group were significantly greater than those in control group, respectively (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between the ACMT group and DCMT group at all parameters. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that ACMT and DCMT showed better regeneration effect than sham MT. Microcurrent may be effective in regeneration of atrophied muscle regardless of the type of current.

• 대한물리치료과학회지
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.86-95
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of ultra-thin microcurrent patch application on pain, tenderness, trunk flexion, and trunk extension in patients with back pain. Design: pretest-posttest design: single blind. Methods: Thirty men and women diagnosed with chronic back pain were classified into 15 microcurrent application groups and 15 placebo groups. Changes in pain were observed on a visual analog scale, tenderness was observed with a digital tenderness meter, and changes in trunk flexion and trunk extension angles were evaluated with a posture analyzer. The paired t-test was used to see the changes within each group before and one week after the experiment, and the independent t-test was used to see the change in the difference between the groups, and the significance level was 0.05. Results: In both the experimental group and the control group, there was a significant difference in pain within and between groups(p<0.05). In the experimental group, there were significant differences in the intra- and inter-group changes in the erector spinae muscle tenderness and low back pain disorder index(p<0.05). In the experimental group, there was a significant difference in the change in trunk flexion and extension within the group(p<0.05). Conclusion: In this study, it was confirmed that the application of ultra-thin microcurrent was effective for pain, tenderness, and movement of back extension in patients with low back pain. It is expected that it will be used as a basic data for microcurrent therapy and as a treatment method for improving the function of patients with back pain in the future.

• Clinical Pain
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.65-69
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• 2019

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of high-voltage microcurrent therapy in patients with herniated lumbar disc (HLD) presenting radicular or back pain. Method: This is a retrospective study with 33 patients who are complaining pain with HLD findings on magnetic resonance image. Microcurrent therapy was applied to leg or paralumbar area. Treatment was conducted for seven minutes with 250~1000 uA intensity as high as the patients could tolerate via stimulating probe with roller type and the frequency was 60 Hz with a sine wave pulse. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was measured just before and after the treatment. Results: The degree of pain reduction (△VAS) was 1.6 points after treatment on average. The △VAS according to the diagnosis, stenosis, dermatome area, medication, pain site and caudal epidural block was not statistically significant. However, the △VAS according to the number of treatments (< 3, ≥ 3 times) showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.04). Conclusion: High-voltage microcurrent therapy may help reduce lumbar or lumbosacral radiating pain after the procedure. The effect was better when microcurrent was applied three times or more. This result suggests that the microcurrent would have cumulative effect on reducing radicular or back pain in patients with HLD.

• 한국응용과학기술학회지
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• 제40권5호
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• pp.1104-1115
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• 2023

본 연구는 미세전류자극이 비만인의 체성분과 혈중지질성분의 변화에 미치는 효과를 규명하고, 복합운동의 효과와 비교함으로써 효과적인 체형 관리 방안으로서 미세전류자극의 유용성을 밝히고자 하였다. 체지방율 30% 이상인 여대생 30명을 통제집단, 복합운동집단, 미세전류자극집단으로 분류하였으며, 각 집단 별 4주간의 처치 전후 체중, 체지방율, 허리 둘레 등의 체성분 요인과 TG, TC, apolipoprotein 등의 혈중지질성분을 측정한 자료를 분석하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 통제집단에서는 모든 측정 항목에서 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않은 반면 복합운동 집단에서는 허리둘레와 TC가 유의하게 감소한 것으로 나타났고, 미세전류자극 집단에서는 체중, 체지방율, 허리둘레, apolipoprotein 등이 유의하게 감소한 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 연구결과를 고려할 때 미세전류 자극은 비만인의 체성분과 혈중지질성분을 개선시켜 건강한 신체를 갖도록 하는데 효과적인 중재 방안으로 제안할 수 있다.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.71-78
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate how induced microcurrent shoes influenced changes of the blood circulation in patients with Plantar Fasciitis. Methods: Initially, the subjects were comprised of 5 males and 5 females, who agreed with this research and are more than fifty years old, but 4 of those were dropped during the experiment. They all have plantar fasciitis and pain on their feet. Subjects wore the induced microcurrent shoes for more than 4 hours everyday during 4 weeks. When they wore those shoes, they also wore the specially produced shocks made of silver-mixed thread and they were asked to avoid intense exercise. Assessments were carried out before and after walking on a treadmill and we measured changes between the test before and after 4 weeks. In the examination of the before test, general shoes were used, and in the examination of the after test, induced microcurrent shoes were used. Temperature difference was measured by thermograpy DOREX spectrum 9000MB(USA). Subjects walked total 20 minutes and during gait, the walking rate on a treadmill was increased from 2Km/h to 3Km/h after 10 minutes. We measured plantar temperature by thermograpy especially both heel, 1st, and 5th metatarsal areas. Results: Firstly, in comparison of the blood circulation on the left and right foot at 0 week and 4 weeks, it tended toward increasing blood circulation but there was. no statistically significant difference (p>0.05). Secondly, in comparison of the blood circulation before and after treadmill with the induced microcurrent shoes, the blood circulation of the heel and the 5th area on the right foot was increased to all subjects(p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that subjects showed tendency to increase blood circulation in both right and left feet after wearing microcurrent shoes and specially after walking treadmill at 4 weeks. Therefore induced microcurrent shoes are useful to improve blood circulation for patients with plantar fasciitis.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.241-251
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• 2019

본 연구에서는 Alzheimer's disease(AD) 마우스 모델에서 미세전류의 적용을 통한 인지능력 개선 효과를 확인하였다. ICR 마우스에 amyloid beta($A{\beta}$)를 뇌 내 주입하여 인지능력 손상을 유도한 후, 4가지 파형의 미세전류를 각각 적용하여 손상된 인지능력에 미치는 미세전류의 영향을 검토하였다. AD 마우스의 공간 및 물체 인지능력을 확인하기 위해 행동실험을 실시한 결과, novel object recognition test와 Morris water maze test에서 $A{\beta}$로 인해 손상되었던 인지능력이 미세전류 적용군에서 유의적으로 개선됨을 확인하였으며, 지질과산화 반응으로 인한 malondialdehyde의 뇌 내 생성량 또한 감소하였다. 뇌 조직에서 AD 관련 단백질 발현을 측정한 결과, 특히 미세전류 Wave4 [STEP FORM 파형(0, 1.5, 3, 5V), 중첩Hz 적용] 적용군에서 $A{\beta}$ 생성 관련 단백질인 ${\beta}$-secretase, presenilin 1, presenilin 2의 발현이 감소하였고 신경영양인자인 brain-derived neurotrophic factor 단백질 발현이 증가하였다. 이 결과를 바탕으로 AD 마우스에서 미세전류를 이용한 손상된 인지능력에 대한 개선 효과를 확인하였으며, AD 예방 및 치료를 위한 비약물적인 방법으로서 적용할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• 한국콘텐츠학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국콘텐츠학회 2009년도 춘계 종합학술대회 논문집
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• pp.1124-1129
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• 2009

골절 후 골 유합에 대한 미세직류전류 자극의 효과를 관찰하기 위하여 체중 2.5~3 ㎏내외의 6개월 령 뉴질랜드 웅성토끼 24마리를 대상으로 경골 골절 후 미세전류 자극을 적용한 실험군과 비적용군인 대조군으로 나누어 3일, 7일, 14일 및 28일 후 BMP-4에 대한 면역조직화학적 염색을 실행하여 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. BMP-4의 발현은 비침습식 미세전류를 적용한 실험군과 자연치유군인 대조군 모두 시간이 경과함에 따라 통계학적으로 유의하게 증가하다가 감소되었다. 그러나 실험군에서 경골 골절 3일 후 대조군은 하버씨계의 간질층판을 중심으로 약한 갈색의 면역양성반응(+)을 보였으나 실험군의 경우 중등도의 면역양성반응(++)을 보였다. 경골 골절 7일 후 대조군은 하버씨계의 동심원과 간질층판을 중심으로 중등도의 갈색의 면역양성반응(++)을 보였으나 실험군의 경우 바깥층판을 포함하여 매우 강한 갈색의 면역양성반응(++++)을 보였다. 경골 골절 14일 후 대조군은 하버씨계의 간질층판과 동심원을 중심으로 강한 갈색의 면역양성반응(+++)을 보였으며 실험군 또한 강한 면역양성반응(+++)을 보였다. 그 후 점차 감소하여 경골 골절 28일 후 대조군은 하버씨계의 간질층판을 중심으로 약한 갈색의 면역양성반응(+)을 보였으나 실험군의 경우 중등도의 면역양성반응(++)을 보였다. 위의 결과로 보면 골절 후 미세전류를 비침습적으로 적용할 때 치유과정 초기에 골형성단백질인 BMP-4의 발현을 증가시켜 골절 치유를 촉진시킴을 알 수 있다.

• 대한임상전기생리학회지
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 2010

Purpose : This research inquires into the effect of applying microcurrent (MC) according to various frequency levels on the pain and functional recovery of patients with chronic back pain. Methods : Thirty participants with chronic lower back pain disease were divided equally into three experimenta l groups. The MC frequency used in the first experimental group was 0.5Hz, the second experimental group was 50Hz, and the third experimental group was 100Hz for 20 minute sessions. A hot pack and ultrasound were applied to all groups as the general physical therapy. Measurements were taken using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the face pain rating scale (FPRS), and the Oswestry disability index (001). The analysis used the paired t-test in order to compare pretest and posttest results. A one-way ANOVA was performed to make comparisons with regards to frequency levels. Results : VAS, FPRS, and 001 showed significant pain decrease in all groups except for the 001 measurement in the 0.5 Hz group. There were no significant differences according to frequency levels. Conclusion: For chronic pain and functional recovery, a microcurrent produces an effect after treatment. However, results did not show a significant difference in change obtained from differing frequency levels.

• 대한임상전기생리학회지
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2009

Purpose : We investigated the effects of microcurrent(MC) electrical stimulation on each intensity($100{\mu}A,\;200{\mu}A,\;500{\mu}A$ - 30pps frequency was same) on delayed onset muscle soreness(DOMS). Methods : Subjects were assigned randomly divided into three groups of eight for three different treatment protocoals($100{\mu}A,\;200{\mu}A,\;500{\mu}A$-experimental groups). Twenty-four healthy males and females subjects were participated in this study. All subjects performed eccentric exercise of elbow flexor(biceps brachii) until exhausted. The measured items of elbow flexor muscle strength were Nicholas Manual Muscle Taster(NMMT). The measured items of elbow joint range of motion ROM) were Goniometer. The measured items of elbow flexor muscle pain were visual analogue scale(VAS). Treatment were applied at 30 minute exercise after and again at 24 hours and at 48 hours and at 72 hours after. Measurements were taken after treatment. Analysis of Results using repeated measures analysis of variance(ANOVA) and post hoc tests were as follows: two-way ANOVA with repeated measurement for muscle strength, flexion ROM, extension ROM and VAS. Results : This results showed eccentric exercise casused DOMS, DOMS response to eccentric exercise were reduces by microcurrent therapy. DOMS was significant decreased at $100{\mu}A,\;200{\mu}A,\;500{\mu}A$. Muscle strength was significant difference at all intensity. Elbow flexion ROM was significant difference at all intensity but elbow extension ROM was insignificant difference at all intensity. VAS score was significant difference at $100{\mu}A$ and $500{\mu}A$ but insignificant difference at $200{\mu}A$. All experimental groups showed insignificant difference with all intensity MENS. Conclusion : These findings indicate that microcurrent therapy is had effect on recovery from exercise induced muscle damage. In our's suggestion, microcurrent therapy is particularly more appropriate therapeutic modality.