• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.67-78
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study were to examine the anti-hyperalgesic effects of combination of electroacupuncture and microcurrent on anti-hyperalgesia in local hyperalgesia zone. Methods: It used 24 rats for experiment, divided them into control group, electroacupuncture group (EA group), microcurrent group (MC group), combination of electroacupuncture with microcurrent (EA+MC group), caused hyperalgesia by injecting ${\lambda}-carrageenan$ into hindpaw. Thickness of hindpaw, mechanical pain threshold (MPT), thermal pain threshold (TPT), noxious flexion withdrawal reflex (NFR) and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) were measured immediately after induction, at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours after induction. The electrical stimulation was given once a day for three days, 20min per session. Results: Change of thickness, MPT, and TPT showed significant difference in all groups compared to control group. In particular, there were remarkable difference in EA+ME group. In particular there were remarkable differences in EA group and EA+MC group. Change of NFR(% threshold, % reaction time, % RMS) and SEP showed mainly significant differences in EA group and EA+ME group compared to control group. In particular, there were remarkable difference in EA+ME group. Conclusion: The above results suggest that appropriate combination of microcurrent with electroacupuncture for pain control will be very desirable.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.36-50
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of high intensity, high frequency microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation(MENS) of auricular and somatic acupuncture points and low intensity, low frequency microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation(MENS) of auricular and somatic acupuncture points on experimental pressure threshold at the elbow according to the time. Fifty healthy adults, aged 19 to 26 years, were assigned randomly to one of five groups: 1) the high intensity, high frequency somatic group(n=10) received MENS to somatic acupuncture points, 2) the high intensity, high frequency auricular group(n=10) received MENS to auricular acupuncture points, 3) the low intensity, low frequency somatic group(n=10) received MENS to somatic acupuncture points, 4) the low intensity, low frequency somatic group(n=10) receive MENS to somatic acupuncture points, and 5) the placebo group(n=10) received placebo treatment and served as controls. Pressure threshold was measured before, after, 5 minutes, 10 minutes and 15 minutes. Pressure threshold has increased significantly(p<.05) in the high intensity, high frequency auricular group following treatment after 5 minutes, with no statistically significant differences in pressure threshold change scores among five groups, Only the high intensity, high frequency auricular group demonstrated statistically significant change score in pressure threshold following treatment after, 5 minutes, 10 minutes and 15 minutes after compared to the placebo group. The results indicated that MENS applied to the high intensity, high frequency auricular group increases pressure threshold.

• 한국콘텐츠학회논문지
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.196-203
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• 2010

본 연구는 BMP-4의 발현을 통해 골절 후 골유합에 대한 미세전류의 효과를 관찰하였다. 실험동물은 체중 2.5~3 kg내외의 6개월 령 뉴질랜드 웅성 토끼 24마리를 사용하였으며 경골 골절 후 미세전류를 적용한 실험군과 비적용군인 대조군으로 나누었고, 시간경과에 따른 변화를 관찰하기 위하여 3일, 7일, 14일 및 28일군으로 나누어 BMP-4에 대한 면역조직화학적 염색을 실행하여 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. BMP-4의 발현은 미세전류를 적용한 실험군과 자연치유군인 대조군 모두 시간이 경과함에 따라 증가하다가 감소되었다. 그러나 골절 7일 후 까지 동일 시점에서 실험군이 대조군에 비해 더욱 강한 면역양성 반응을 보였다. 특히 경골 골절 7일 후 대조군은 하버씨계의 동심원과 간질층판을 중심으로 중등도의 갈색의 면역양성반응을 보인데 반해 실험군의 경우 바깥층판을 포함하여 매우 강한 갈색의 면역양성반응을 보였다. 위의 결과로 보면 골절 후 미세전류를 적용할 때 치유과정 초기에 골형성단백질인 BMP-4의 발현을 증가시켜 골절 치유를 촉진시킴을 알 수 있었다.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.83-92
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• 2011

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease and is led to physical disability. Yet the development of effective disease-modifying treatments has lagged. In this study, I examined the effect of physical therapeutic intervention through microcurrent stimulation and attempt to find which degree of intensity, either 25 ${\mu}A$ or 500 ${\mu}A$ with a regular 5 pps pulse, is more effective in the osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis was induced with a mixture of 2% carrageenan and 2% kaolin in 26 male Sprague-Dawley rats. The mixture (0.1 $m{\ell}$) was injected into the intra-articular capsule of knee joint once a week for three weeks. Five animals did not show degenerative changes by radiological findings and excluded in the following experiment. Osteoarthritic animals were randomly divided into 3 groups ($n_1$, $n_2$, $n_3$=7/each): untreated, treated with 25 ${\mu}A$, treated with 500 ${\mu}A$. All experimental groups received microcurrent stimulation for four weeks (15 min/day, 5 days/week). The ethological inspection of foot print analysis on the walking corridor was accomplished every week. Histological preparations and immunohistochemical staining with insulin-like growth factor-1 were also done in the articular cartilages. All of these parameters were compared with those of osteoarthritic control group (n=7). The ethological inspection of foot print analysis revealed that changes of walking track (paw width) and stride length was significantly increased in both experimental groups. The better results were observed in experimental group treated with 25 ${\mu}A$ intensity without significance than group treated with 500 ${\mu}A$. Histological preparations disclosed that routine hyaline cartilage of articular surface were altered to fibrous cartilage in untreated group and experimental group treated with 500 ${\mu}A$ intensity. But a little changes were seen in experimental group treated with 25 ${\mu}A$ intensity. Immunolocalization of insulin-like growth factor-1 was simultaneously decreased according to the duration of osteoarthritis, and did not show significant difference among the groups. In this study discovered that the microcurrent stimulation, especially 25 ${\mu}A$ intensity, had a positive effect by the ethological inspection, histological and immunohistochemical stainings. These results suggest that microcurrent stimulation with low-intensity might be effective in the promotion of healing process for the osteoarthritis.

• 디지털융복합연구
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• 제11권11호
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• pp.545-551
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• 2013

본 연구는 단시간 들기 내리기 작업을 실시한 누적피로 대상자에게 미세전류자극 및 휴식을 적용하여 피로 지수에 미치는 영향을 비교하였다. 2012년 12월부터 2013년 2월까지 S대학에서 연구가 진행되었으며, 말초질환 및 근골격계 질환이 없고 오른손을 사용하는 20대의 신체 건강한 남자 22명을 대상자로 선정하였다. 모든 대상자는 10 kg 상자를 15분 동안 들기 내리기를 100회 실시한 직후, 표면근전도기를 이용한 근피로지수(Median Frequency : MF)와 혈액피로지수(Creatine Kinase Lactate : CK, Lactate Dehydrogenase : LDH)를 측정하였다. 두 그룹으로 나누어 실험군에는 미세전류자극을 대조군에는 휴식을 각각 20분간 중재하였다. 중재 후, 근피로지수와 혈액피로지수를 측정하여 누적 피로지수의 변화를 비교하였다. 그 결과 휴식그룹의 왼쪽 척주세움근 피로지수를 제외한 두 그룹 모두에서 중재방법 적용 전보다 적용 후 유의한 누적피로의 감소(p<.05)가 있었고, 미세전류의 자극은 휴식과 비교했을 때, 근피로지수의 유의한 감소(p<.05)를 보였지만, 혈액피로지수는 차이가 없었다. 본 연구의 결과를 토대로 미세전류자극은 반복적인 들기와 내리기 작업 종사자들의 근피로회복에 도움이 될 것이라 사료되며, 장시간 피로지수 추적조사 및 중재 적용시간에 따른 피로회복의 상관관계 대한 추가적인 연구가 필요하다.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.76-87
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• 2000

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a common problem that can interfere with rehabilitation as well as activities of daily living. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of both transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation (MENS) on DOMS, Twenty-seven untrained and male volunteer subjects were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: 1) a group that received TENS (7 Hz), 2) MENS (60 ${\mu}A$, .3 pps) or 3) a control group that received no treatment. Subjects performed repeated eccentric exercise of the non-dominant forearm flexor muscle with submaximal intensity by the simply designed eccentric exercise devices. Treatments were applied after 24 hours and 48 hours. Subjects attended on two consecutive days for treatment and measurement of elbow flexion, extension, resting angle (universal goniometer), and pain (visual analogue scale: VAS) on a daily basis. Measurements were taken after treatment. Analysis of results were as follows; 1) There were no significant differences between TENS and MENS by one-way repeated ANOVA, 2) The t-test for pain, resting, flexion and extension angle revealed significant differences within TENS group, 3) The t-test for resting angle revealed significant differences within MENS group.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.12-23
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• 1996

High Voltage Pulsed Current Stimulation(HVPCS) and Microcurrent Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation(MENS) have been used to promote the healing of decubitus ulcer and surgical wounds. The benefits of HVPCS and MENS are thought to include an inhibitive effect on bacterial growth. The purpose of this study was to compare the inhibitive effect of two different electrical stimulation techniques growth in vitro. Using agarose-based media, the two bacterial species Staphylococcus aureus, Esherichia coli - which are commonly isolated from open wounds were incubated in an incubator for 24 hours following exposure to HVPCS(400 V, 120 pps, $70{\mu}s$) and MENS($100{\mu}A$, 0.3 Hz). We then measured the zone of inhibition around each electrode. Both HVPCS and MENS produced an inhibitive effect on bacterial growth in this vitro study. However MENS was more effective than HVPCS.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.121-133
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• 2008

Objectives : MENS was used for wound healing and pain relief using bioelectric property. There are many articles on in vivo and clinical research. This article reviews articles on MENS published for recent 10 years to consider effectiveness of MENS and other fields to applicate MENS. Articles were collected from MAR, 2008 to JUN, 2008. Methods : We searched Pubmed, KSI, KERIS, KMBASE, and National assembly library using "Microcurrent Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation" and classified the articles into subsets of foreign, Korean and wound healing, pain, relief, and increasing the range of movement(ROM). Also we evaluated their values according to the Jadad scale. Results : A total of 18 articles (Foreign-9, Korean-9) reconfirmed that MENS reduces pain, increases wound healing, ROM, and strength of muscle. In addition, MENS has effect on stress-hormone and various pain like low back pain, acute lateral epicondylitis, and plantar fascitis. And there are various styles developed. However, there is no standard protocol so the user is usually in trouble at clinic. Conclusions : MENS may be have application to various pain diseases, and further studies analysing its effectiveness are needed.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.85-93
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• 1994

The purposes of this study were 1) to examine the effects of microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation 2) to compare surface electrode with needle electrode at somatic acupuncture points on experimental pain threshold measured at the distal end of the radius 3) to determine the changes in effect over time. A total of sixty healthy adult male and female subjects were assigned randomly to one of two experimental group or to a control group. Group 1(n=20) received MENS(Microcurrent Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation) with surface electrode. Group 2(n=20) received HENS with needle electrode. Group 3(n=20) received no MENS. It measured experimental pain threshold at the wrist on pretreatment, 0 min after treatment. 15 min after treatment, 30 min after treatment in two experimental group. The results were as follows: 1. Experimental pain thresholds were higher in males than females(P<0.01). 2. Only the experimental group exhibited a significant increased in pain threshold after MENS treatment(P<0.05). 3. Surface electrode group increased significant pain threshold 0 min, 15 min after treatment, but greatly decrease 30 min after treatment. 4. Needle electrode group increased significant pain threshold 0 min, 15 min after treatment, but decrease 30 min after treatment. The results suggest that MENS applied to appropriate somatic acupuncture point can increase pain threshold. Further research is needed to assess the effects of greatly variety intensity of MENS of pain sufferes.