• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.6 no.1
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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.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.107-116
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• 2013

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the most effective stimulating electrode in Microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation (MENS) for pain relief, and to apply to the treatment of Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Methods We included 45 participants who met the inclusion criteria. DOMS of both Triceps Surae Muscles were experimentally induced through eccentric contractions. 24-hours after induction of DOMS, who scored more than 40 mm in visual analogue scale (VAS) were randomly assigned into three groups (n=44). In 15 of them, needle electrodes were inserted into BL57, BL56. In 15 of them, surface electrodes were applied on the same points and the others were treated with manual acupuncture. The effects of pain relief were assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS), mechanical pain threshold (MPT), surface electromyography (SEMG). Results In VAS, group comparison had no significant difference after all treatments had done. The difference in VAS between the time before the treatment was started (Day 2) and after all treatments were completed was greater in Acupuncture group than that of needle-electrode group. In MPT, there was no significant difference among groups. Electrical contraction decreased significantly at 2nd before-after treatment comparison in needle-electrode MENS group. But fatigue scores were not significantly different between groups. Conclusions The results suggest that the types of electrodes has no significant effect on microcurrent therapy in DOMS.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.845-866
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• 1997

Several experimental studies showed that the application of small amounts of electric current to bone stimulated osteogenesis at the site of the cathode and suggests that the application of electrical currents to periodontal defects could promote bone and cementum formation. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of direct microcurrent to the periodontal regeneration of class III furcation defects in dogs. Class III furcation defects were surgically created on the third and the fourth premolars bilaterally in the mandibles of nine mongrel dogs. Experimental periodontitis were induced by placing small cotton pellets into the created defects for 3 weeks. The experimental sites were divided into three groups according to the treatment modalities: Group I-surgical debridement only; Group II-allogenic demineralized freeze dried bone grafting; Group III-allogenic demineralized freeze dried bone grafting and electrical stimulation. For fluorescence microscopic evaluation, calcein, oxytetracycline HCI and alizarin red were injected 2, 4 and 8 weeksfS days prior to sacrifice) after surgery. The animals were sacrificed in the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 8th week after periodontal surgery and the decalcified and undecalcified specimens were prepared for histological and histometrical examination. After the first and the second weeks, gingival recession was more severe in group I than groups II and III. After the fourth and the eighth weeks, there was no difference in the width of junctional epithelium and connective tissue attachment among the three groups, but the width of connective tissue attachment increased in group II at the eighth week, compared to the fourth week. The amount of bone repair in new attachment was significantly greater in group III, compared to groups I and II. New attachment formation was significantly greater in group III, compared to groups I and group II. These results suggest that electrical stimulation using microcurrent generator could be a useful tool for periodontal regenerative therapy in class III furcation defect.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of two different forms of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) and one of microcurrent high voltage pulsed galvanic current(HVPC) on sympathetic tone in healthy subjects. Fourty subjects received TENS(20) and PVPC(30) during short time(20min). Left finger tip skin temperatures were measured at four interval for each treatment : 1) before treatment, 2) after 10 minutes treatment, 3)after 20 minutes treatment, and 4) after 10 minutes rest. The results were as follows. 1) TENS treatment group increased skin temperature after treatment 20 minutes, but HVPC treatment increased akin temperature after 10 minutes and recovered normal skin temperature after 10 minutes treatment. It means that short time(20min) electrical stimulation decreased sympathetic activities. 2) Sympathetic activities of TENS stimulation were influenced by age, but HVPC were not. 3) During 10 minutes, both treatment increased sympathetic activities, but HVPC treatment reversed sympathetic activity more rapidly than TENS. 4) The changes of skin temperature means by sex, males in TENS treatment group were higher than females, but HVPC were reverted.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2008

Purpose : This study observed the recovery of function and pain on the eletrostimulation therapy(transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) and micro current therapy(MT)). Methods : Subjects were assigned randomly either experimental group(n=17) who were taken TENS or the control group(n=20) who were taken MT. Also subjects were assessed for pain(Visual Analog Scale; VAS) and function(Oswestry LBP disability index). Results : The VAS has a statistically significant difference with each groups(p<.05), but there was no statistically significant difference with intergroup during treatment period(p>.05). The Oswestry LBP disability index has a statistically significant difference with each groups(p<.05), also there was a statistically significant difference with intergroup during treatment period(p<.05). Conclusion : The efficancy of microcurrent therapy used in this study should be futher investigated in a long period study and objective study outcomes.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.175-182
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• 2017

Microcurrent electrical stimulation(MES) has been used to accelerate recovery of atrophied skeletal muscle. However, convincing stimulation parameters for suppressing muscle atrophy due to injured sciatic nerve remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effective intensity of MES on restraining muscle atrophy with rat model underwent sciatic nerve injury(SNI). Twenty-5-week-old Sprague Dawley male rats were equally assigned to five groups : Control group(Control, CON, n = 4), Denervation group(Denervation, D, n = 4), Denervation with MES of $22{\mu}A$ group(Denervation + $22{\mu}A$, D+22, n = 4), Denervation with MES of $100{\mu}A$ group (Denervation + $100{\mu}A$, D+100 n = 4), Denervation with MES of $400{\mu}A$ group(Denervation + $400{\mu}A$, D+400, n = 4). To induce muscle atrophy, all rats in the D, D+22, D+100, and D+400 groups, were subjected to sciatic nerve injury on their right hindlimb and allowed to have 1 week of resting period. Following this period, rats underwent daily MES(60 min/ a day, 5times/1week) for 4 weeks. After that, we investigate morphological changes in muscle volume by using in vivo micro-computed tomography at week 0, 1, 3 and 5. After 5 weeks, the muscle volume had the highest value in D+400 group, and also noticeably increased in D+100 group compared to it in D group. The results of this study imply that MES with current intensities between $100-400{\mu}A$ can suppress muscle atrophy effectively.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.177-193
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• 2004

Several experimental studies showed that the application of small amounts of electric current to bone stimulated osteogenesis at the site of the cathode and suggested that electrical currents promote osseointegration around dental implants. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of direct microcurrent to endosseous titanium implants placed in bone defects. The right and left 2nd, 3rd and 4th mandibular premolars in ten mongrel dogs (15Kg of weight) were extracted. One monthe later, Ti-machined screw type implants(3.8 mm diameter x 8.5 mm length, $AVANA^{(R)}$, Ostem) were placed in surgically created circumferential defect area(width 5mm, depth 4mm). The implants were divided into three groups according to the treatment modalities: Control group- implants without electrical stimulation; Experimental group I- implants with allogenic demineralized freeze dried bone grafting; and Experimental group II-implants allogenic demineralized freeze dried bone grafting and electric stimulation. The animals were sacrificed in the 4th and 8th week after implant placement and un-decalcified specimens were prepared for histological and histometrical evaluation of bone-implant contact ratio (BIC) and bone formation area ratio (BFA) in defect area. Some specimens at 8 weeks after implantation were used for removal torque testing. Histologically, there was connective tissue infiltration in the coronal part of defect area in control and the experimental group I, whereas direct bone contact was found in the experimental group II without connective tissue invasion. Average BIC ratios at 4 weeks of healing were 60.1% in the experimental group II, 47.4% in the experimental group I and 42.7% in the control. Average BIC ratios at 8 weeks after implantation were 67.6% in the experimental group II, 55.9% in the experimental group I and 54.6% in the control. The average BFA ratio was 84.0% in the experimental group II, 71.8% in the experimental group I and 58.8% in the control at 4 weeks, and the BFA ratios were 89.6% in the experimental group II, 81.4% in the experimental group I and 70.5% in the control at 8 weeks after implantation. The experimental group II showed also significantly greater BIC and BFA ratios compared to the control and the experimental group I (p<0.05). The removal torque values at 8 weeks after implantation were 56 Ncm in the experimental group II, 49 Ncm in the experimental group I and 43 Ncm in the control. There was a statistically significant difference among 3 groups (p<0.05). These results suggest that electrical stimulation improve and accelerate bone healing around endosseous titanium implants in bone defect.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.31-37
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• 2014

Purpose : 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 compare the effect of both trascutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) Micro current(MC) and only normal Therapy on Delyed Onset Muscle Soreness(DOMS). Method : The Methods ten untrained and male volunteer subjects were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: 1) a group that received TENS (60Hz) MC($60{\mu}A$, 3pps) a control group that received no MC 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 24hours and 48hours. Subjects attended on two consecutive days for treatment and measurement of paining(visual analogue scale: VAS) and CK(Creatine kinase) on a daily basis. Measurements were taken after treatment. Results : 1) There were no significant differences between TENS and MENS by two-way repeated ANOVA. The Results that t-test for VAS revealed significant differences within TENS group. 3) The t-test for VAS, and Creatine Kinase of time revealed significant differences within MC group. Conclusion : These findings suggest that both TENS and MENS had effect on DOMS.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.118-126
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate pain relief and functional recovery after total knee replacement. Methods: The treatment was performed by dividing individuals into a control group ($n_1=5$), ultrasound treatment group ($n_2=5$), and micro-current treatment group ($n_3=5$). The control group applied the hot pack for 15 minutes, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for 15 minutes, and Continuous Passive Movement (CPM) for 40 minutes. The ultrasound therapy group applied the frequency of 1 MHz, intensity of 1.0 $W/cm^2$ for five minutes following the same treatment as the control group. The micro-current therapy group applied the intensity of 25 ${\mu}A$, and pulsation frequency 5 pps for 15 minutes following the same treatment as the control group. After treatment, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (K-WOMAC), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Range of Movement (ROM) and wound length was measured. Results: VAS showed significant effect in the control group and micro-current therapy group during the treatment period. According to the treatment of K-WOMACK, BBS, ROM, and Healing wounds showed main effects between groups. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, data showed improvement of pain relief, wound healing effects, and range of motion recovery. Thus, these selected treatments were effective after total knee replacement. In other words, electrical treatment continues to influence pain relief and functional recovery after total knee replacement.