We are often asked what it is exactly that microcurrent technology does. Through our extensive research into this brilliant technology, we have found many papers detailing the effect microcurrent has within a body.
Please see one of the many papers below for more explanation. If you wish to see more papers on microcurrent technology, please visit our Arc4Health website.
Physiological
Basis of Microcurrent Therapy by Peter H. Lathrop, Ph.D
Microcurrent
Therapy is low-volt pulsed micro-amperage stimulation. It is based on the hypothesis
that micro-amperage currents more closely approximate the naturally occurring bioelectric
currents in the body and therefore more effectively augment the body’s tissue healing
and repair. Studies also indicate human tissue appears to heal more rapidly
with micro-current application.
Bioelectric
currents in the body are generally found to be in the micro-amp range. Changes in
the bioelectric voltage potentials across muscle cell membranes allow for more
efficient membrane transport and metabolic processes. The cell's increased
permeability to sodium ions is followed by an increased permeability to
potassium ions. Energy is needed for these activities to occur within the
muscle fibre. When a local stimulus is applied to the nearby surrounding
membrane, changes occur in the ionic conductance of the membrane, which tend to
restore the resting potential even if the stimulus persists.
Three
variables critical to the healing process are ATP (adenosine triphosphate),
protein synthesis, and membrane transport.
ATP
(adenosine triphosphate) concentration serves a direct vital function in the
"active transport" mechanism known as the Sodium Pump. The Sodium
Pump is directly responsible for the trans-membrane movement of sodium,
potassium, calcium, metabolic waste and metabolites. Active Transport means
that this system requires large amounts of energy to move vital ions in and out
of the cell. If this energy is unavailable, metabolic waste builds up in toxic
concentrations.
An
injury or trauma to a muscle decreases ATP and causes spasm, which results in
decreased oxygen and nutrients to the cells. It also disrupts the sodium pump,
which results in the accumulation of metabolic by-products. All of these events
are perceived by an individual as pain.
Damaged
tissue cells produce an electrical current through the loss of intracellular
ions and the disruption of the sodium pump mechanism. The current then changes
the normal electrical potential patterns. The uninjured cells attempt to
restore normal function to the damaged tissues by restoring the normal
electrical potential.
Re-establishment
of the sodium pump, either naturally or by micro-current stimulation, occurs
when the increase in intracellular current creates increased mitochondrial
function, which enhances the cell's concentration of ATP. When ATP is
replenished in injured tissues, the membrane active transport is increased,
allowing the flow of nutrients into the cells and the flow of waste materials
from the cells. With this process, healthy tissue emerges.
Microcurrent
stimulation also increases the ability of the cell to synthesize protein. ATP provides
the fuel for the transmigration of metabolite and metabolic waste across the
cell membranes as well as the re-establishment of the cellular bio-electronic
ionic concentration gradient. What this means is that cell membrane potential
is re-established, levels of intracellular metabolic waste (i.e. lactic acid)
are reduced and fresh concentrations of usable cellular metabolites are
introduced into the exhausted cell. At this point the cell can enter its
regenerative phase and pain levels are noticeably reduced.
The electric message
is carried along the nerves as a result of changes in the quantities of potassium
and sodium salts inside and outside the cell. Outside the cell is an abundance
of sodium salt and little potassium; inside is an abundance of potassium and
little sodium. The effect is like that of a wet battery where different
solutions separated by a semi-permeable membrane give rise to an electric
current. Each cell can be viewed as possessing its own immediate
electro-magnetic environment that combines with the fields of similar adjacent cells,
thereby creating the electro-magnetic field of a particular system within the
human body. The cell in the living organism is like a small electric battery
with the mitochondria as the powerhouse. All functions of the human body are
electro-chemical in their operations
The mitochondria
provide the fuel for the transmigration of metabolite and metabolic waste across
the cell membranes. The increased activity of the mitochondria enhances the production
of ATP in the cytoplasm and the establishment of the cellular bio-electronic
ionic concentration gradient. So the cell membrane potential is re-established
and pain levels are noticeably reduced. At this point the cell can enter its
regenerative phase.
Nerve fibres
normally operate electrically; using the flow of positively charged ions
through water in the same way that electronic circuits use the flow of
negatively charged electrons through metal conductors. This means that
externally applied electrical currents can influence neurons.
Regeneration is a
series of endothermic and electrochemical reactions. This means that minute
amounts of electricity are needed by the cells to provide energy to fuel the regenerative
process. The body normally contains more than enough energy to produce this desired
effect.
After the body
receives bioelectric therapy, there is electronic input into various points regulating
the functioning of cells and neuro-muscular systems of the body. Glycogen utilisation
of the muscle tissue increases and the amino acid content of the brain tissue
also increases. At the same time, activities of some enzymes in the tissue
become stronger. These changes indicate that treatment can promote the
metabolic process of tissues in their movement to help invigorate the body's
power of resistance, thereby promoting the recovery of damaged tissues.
One of
the reasons micro-current treatment is becoming more widely used is the patient comfort factor. With micro-current, tissue resistance is
overcome utilising a much lower voltage than
other types of electrotherapy. With such low voltages, the patient feels no
discomfort, and, in fact, often feels no sensation at
all from the treatment.
Bioelectric
stimulation produces electrochemical changes in the body that set the stage for
healing. With recharged cellular batteries, the body can take over and perform
the healing of which it is capable.
