Microcurrent stimulation to the body causes radically increased production of ATP levels. This allows the body to perform whatever healing process it has undertaken in an accelerated fashion. It may even allow one to get over the proverbial “hump” that was unachievable, due to insufficient ATP concentrations to perform the changes needed.
When is “microcurrent” effective?
Micro-current electrical neuromuscular stimulation or MENS, as opposed to conventional electrotherapy where milliampere (mA) currents are administered, uses currents whose intensity varies between 10 and 500 µA (microamperes, i.e. one-millionth of an ampere).
Much scientific research shows that the ATP (adenosine 5′-triphosphate) synthesis level is increased by the application of micro-currents On the other hand, it seems to slow down when endogenous mA currents are applied.
In particular, the increment of the ATP synthesis reaches its maximum levels thanks to the administration of 500-µA currents, while, beyond this intensity level, it rapidly decreases. In light of this, it is important to remember that ATP is the main source of intracellular chemical energy in every living organism and can be used in a wide variety of biological activities, including the healing process of damaged tissues.
Another very interesting aspect regarding the application of MENS is that the alpha-aminoisobutyric acid uptake increases noticeably thanks to the application of an exogenous current starting from an intensity level of 10 µA. On the other hand, starting with an intensity level of 750 µA, there is an inhibitory effect. Considering that the alpha-aminoisobutyric acid uptake is essential for the protein synthesis mechanism (which is at the basis of tissue repair processes), its increase by 30-40%, as is produced by MENS applications, could play an essential role in the cell reconstruction process.
The basic mechanism causing an increase in ATP synthesis is essentially constituted by the fact that, during MENS-induced electrostimulation, a proton gradient is created, i.e. a variation in proton concentration, which causes the creation of a proton flow from the anode to the cathode. This proton flow through the mitochondrial membrane brings about an increase in ATP formation, which stimulates the transport of amino acids, two essential factors to increment protein synthesis.
MENS THERAPY
MENS therapy normally involves two distinct phases, the first of which aims at reducing the pain sensation felt by the patient, while the second phase promotes protein and ATP synthesis, thereby speeding up the tissue healing process. Treatment duration is normally between 15 and 30 minutes for the first phase and between 5 to 10 minutes for the second phase. The most frequently used parameters, which can however vary according to the type of pathology treated, for the first phase are: intensity between 1 and 5 µA with a frequency of about 5 Hz and with 250 millisecond wide pulses. As regards the second phase, the parameters normally used are: intensity between 10 and 200 µA with a frequency between 0.3 and 1 Hz and with 100 millisecond wide pulses.
The effectiveness of MENS therapy has been scientifically proven in the following fields:
• Reduction of edemas and swelling of a traumatized area.
• Osteoarthritis.
• Stimulation of the production of cartilaginous proliferation processes.
• Acceleration of tendon repair processes.
• Osteogenesis process facilitation.
