Frequency Specific Microcurrent for Osteoarthritis

Overseen By Christy Palmer, RN

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Nova Southeastern University

Must not be taking: Immune-enhancing, Inflammation medications

Disqualifiers: Smoker, Immune-modulating diseases, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 1 day

10 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you have not taken any immune-enhancing dietary supplements or medications for inflammation in the past 10 days. If you are currently taking such medications, you may need to stop them before participating.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Frequency Specific Microcurrent for osteoarthritis?

Research suggests that microcurrent therapy may help reduce pain and improve function in people with knee osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal pain conditions, although more evidence is needed to confirm its benefits specifically for osteoarthritis. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Frequency Specific Microcurrent therapy safe for humans?

Microcurrent therapy, including Frequency Specific Microcurrent, has been used in various studies for conditions like chronic pain and knee osteoarthritis. While the focus is often on its effectiveness, these studies generally suggest that it is safe for human use, with no major safety concerns reported. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

How does Frequency Specific Microcurrent treatment differ from other osteoarthritis treatments?

Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) treatment is unique because it uses specific frequencies of electrical currents to target and potentially improve the health of joint cartilage, which is different from traditional treatments like medications or physical therapy that do not use electrical stimulation. ^{8 9 10 11 12}

What is the purpose of this trial?

It is hypothesized that application of frequency specific microcurrent can decrease inflammation in osteoarthritis patients resulting in decreased pain and potentially decrease disease progression. Participants will received the microcurrent treatment for one hour and a total of five blood draws to measure inflammatory markers. Participants will also complete a pre and post treatment pain questionnaire.

Research Team

Samuel Spaiser, MS

Principal Investigator

Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults over 18 with a BMI greater than 29.9 who have been actively diagnosed with osteoarthritis. It's not specified, but typically people are excluded if they have conditions that might interfere with the treatment or skew results.

Inclusion Criteria

My BMI is over 29.9.

I have been diagnosed with active osteoarthritis.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive frequency specific microcurrent treatment or sham treatment for one hour with blood draws at specified intervals

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

1-2 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Frequency Specific Microcurrent

Trial Overview The study is testing Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) to see if it reduces inflammation and pain in osteoarthritis patients compared to a sham (fake) treatment. Participants will undergo an hour of FSM and complete questionnaires about their pain before and after treatment.

Participant Groups

Group I: FSM Treatment Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants receiving the 40 hertz/97 hertz alternating sharp square wave 200 uamp microcurrent treatment (machine is turned on and placed in an opaque bag to cover the screen; the machine is silent and therefore will be indistinguishable form placebo)

Group II: Placebo Group (Sham) Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Participants receiving sham microcurrent treatment (machine is turned off and placed in an opaque bag to cover the screen)

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Nova Southeastern University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

103

Recruited

12,000+

Findings from Research

Microcurrent therapy significantly reduced knee pain in participants over a 4-week period, with notable improvements observed particularly in the third week (P < 0.01).

Participants using microcurrent therapy also showed an increasing trend in physical function scores, suggesting that this treatment could be a beneficial alternative or complement to traditional pain medications for acute knee pain.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of microcurrent therapy for treatment of acute knee pain: A randomized double-blinded controlled clinical trial. Lawson, D., Lee, KH., Kang, HB., et al.[2022]

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of microcurrent therapy (MCT) for managing pain and improving function in adults with knee osteoarthritis, using a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

The research will analyze data from multiple databases and employ meta-analysis techniques to provide a comprehensive understanding of MCT's potential benefits, addressing the current lack of clinical evidence supporting its use in knee OA treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of microcurrent therapy in promoting function and pain management of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. Zhou, Z., Xue, Y., Zhao, Y., et al.[2023]

In a study of 78 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty, those receiving microcurrent therapy alongside conventional physiotherapy showed a significant improvement in functional outcomes, with a 31% increase in their OSWESTRY total function score after three months, compared to an 18% increase in the control group receiving sham treatment.

The results indicate that microcurrent therapy can enhance recovery in postoperative rehabilitation, suggesting it should be considered for early introduction in treatment protocols after knee surgery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Effectiveness of microcurrent therapy as a constituent of post-hospital rehabilitative treatment in patients after total knee alloarthroplasty - a randomized clinical trial]. Rockstroh, G., Schleicher, W., Krummenauer, F.[2010]

Interferential current (IFC) therapy significantly improved pain and disability outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis compared to a sham treatment, based on a study of 60 patients over 3 weeks.

While all active IFC frequencies (40, 100, and 180 Hz) showed benefits, there was no significant difference in effectiveness among the different frequencies, indicating that any of them can be used effectively for treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interferential current therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis: comparison of the effectiveness of different amplitude-modulated frequencies. Gundog, M., Atamaz, F., Kanyilmaz, S., et al.[2016]

Microcurrent therapy (MCT) has been shown to significantly improve shoulder and knee pain in adults, based on a review of 4 randomized controlled trials involving a total of 92 patients, with no severe adverse events reported.

The study highlights a notable placebo effect in treating knee pain, suggesting that while MCT is a promising nonpharmacologic treatment option, further research is needed to fully understand its efficacy and optimize study quality.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Microcurrent Therapy as a Therapeutic Modality for Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review Accelerating the Translation From Clinical Trials to Patient Care. Iijima, H., Takahashi, M.[2022]

A study involving 50 patients per condition showed that microcurrent therapy significantly improved health-related quality of life for chronic back pain, skeletal system pain, fibromyalgia, migraine, and depression over a 6-month period.

The therapy was found to be safe, with only four adverse events reported, indicating that microcurrent devices can be effectively used in real-world settings for these conditions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Observational Study to Assesses the Efficacy and Safety of Microcurrent Therapy with a Portable Device in Patients Suffering from Chronic Back Pain, Skeletal System Pain, Fibromyalgia, Migraine or Depression. Marmann, P., Wiatrek, W.[2023]

In a study of 213 patients with mechanical low back pain (LBP) treated with frequency-specific microcurrent (FSM) therapy, significant improvements in pain and disability were observed compared to a control group, indicating FSM's efficacy as an adjuvant treatment.

However, in patients with neck pain (NP), FSM did not show a significant difference in pain or disability outcomes compared to the control group, suggesting that its benefits may be more pronounced for LBP than NP.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of adjuvant frequency-specific microcurrents on pain and disability in patients treated with physical rehabilitation for neck and low back pain. Shetty, GM., Rawat, P., Sharma, A.[2021]

The study measured streaming potential distributions in articular cartilage under compression, revealing that potential amplitudes were highest at the center of the cartilage disk, which aligns with predictions from biphasic models regarding fluid pressure and movement.

These findings suggest that spatially resolved measurements of streaming potentials can be useful for non-destructive diagnostics of cartilage health and may help understand how physical signals affect cellular responses in cartilage.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Streaming potentials maps are spatially resolved indicators of amplitude, frequency and ionic strength dependant responses of articular cartilage to load. Garon, M., Légaré, A., Guardo, R., et al.[2019]

A personalized knee model was developed to improve the accuracy of measuring the effects of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) delivered through the skin, using advanced techniques like Finite Element Analysis and impedance spectroscopy.

The model was validated in a study involving 30 volunteers, including both healthy individuals and those with varying degrees of knee osteoarthritis, achieving a low average error of 3%, demonstrating its potential for reliable monitoring of treatment effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A personalized FEM model for reproducible measurement of anti-inflammatory drugs in transdermal administration to knee. Arpaia, P., Crauso, F., Frosolone, M., et al.[2022]

Current density imaging (CDI) is an effective technique for mapping electric currents in bone structures, which can help in studying conditions like osteoporosis and bone fractures.

The method's sensitivity is enhanced by using a contrast agent (Gd-DTPA) and physiological saline, allowing for clear visualization of electric current distribution, which could aid in understanding the effects of electrical stimulation on bone health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Electric current density imaging of bone by MRI. Beravs, K., White, D., Sersa, I., et al.[2019]

Electroarthrography (EAG) is a promising new technology that detects cartilage degradation by recording electrical signals from the knee during compressive loading, reflecting the health of the cartilage.

Computer modeling of the knee has shown that EAG signals are generated by load-induced fluid flow in cartilage, and different cartilage defects can be identified by specific changes in these electrical signals, enhancing the potential for EAG as a clinical diagnostic tool.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The forward problem of electroarthrography: modeling load-induced electrical potentials at the surface of the knee. Han, Q., Buschmann, MD., Savard, P.[2016]

The study calculated the electric fields and current densities induced in knee cartilage by a specially designed coil applicator that uses pulsed magnetic fields, showing a peak electric field magnitude of -153 mV/m in the medial cartilage.

This research utilized advanced 3D modeling techniques to simulate the effects of the magnetic field, indicating the potential for this technology to be adapted for different waveforms and applicator designs in treating osteoarthritis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Calculation of electric fields induced in the human knee by a coil applicator. Buechler, DN., Christensen, DA., Durney, CH., et al.[2019]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of microcurrent therapy for treatment of acute knee pain: A randomized double-blinded controlled clinical trial. [2022]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of microcurrent therapy in promoting function and pain management of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. [2023]

3. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Effectiveness of microcurrent therapy as a constituent of post-hospital rehabilitative treatment in patients after total knee alloarthroplasty - a randomized clinical trial]. [2010]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interferential current therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis: comparison of the effectiveness of different amplitude-modulated frequencies. [2016]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Microcurrent Therapy as a Therapeutic Modality for Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review Accelerating the Translation From Clinical Trials to Patient Care. [2022]

6. New Zealand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Observational Study to Assesses the Efficacy and Safety of Microcurrent Therapy with a Portable Device in Patients Suffering from Chronic Back Pain, Skeletal System Pain, Fibromyalgia, Migraine or Depression. [2023]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of adjuvant frequency-specific microcurrents on pain and disability in patients treated with physical rehabilitation for neck and low back pain. [2021]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Streaming potentials maps are spatially resolved indicators of amplitude, frequency and ionic strength dependant responses of articular cartilage to load. [2019]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A personalized FEM model for reproducible measurement of anti-inflammatory drugs in transdermal administration to knee. [2022]

10. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Electric current density imaging of bone by MRI. [2019]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The forward problem of electroarthrography: modeling load-induced electrical potentials at the surface of the knee. [2016]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Calculation of electric fields induced in the human knee by a coil applicator. [2019]