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J.Phys. Ther. Sci
23: 515-518, 2011

The Effect of Microcurrent Electrical Stimulation on
the Foot Blood Circulation and Pain of Diabetic
Neuropathy

RAE JOON PARK, PhD, PT1), HOHEE SON, MSc, PT1), KYUNG KIM, PhD, PT1),
SUNGGIL KIM, PT1), TAEYOUNG OH, PhD, PT2)

1)Department of Physical Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Science, Daegu University: 15 Naeri
Jillyang, Gyeongsan, 712-765, South Korea. TEL: +82 11-505-8065, FAX : +82 53-850-4359,
E-mail : pt5252@nate.com

2)Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medical Life Science, Silla University

Abstract. [Purpose] This study was performed to investigate the effect of microcurrent electrical
stimulation on the foot blood circulation and the degree of pain experienced by diabetes patients.
[Subjects] Twenty nine patients with diabetic neuropathy over the age of 60 were randomly divided into
an experimental(16 patients, 67.9 ± 8.0 years) and a control group(13 patients, 70.4 ± 4.4 years).
[Methods] Both groups walked on a treadmill at a comfortable pace for 50 min/day, 5 days/week for 4
weeks, and each participant’s body weight, body composition, and blood lipid were examined at the
baseline and 4 weeks later. [Results] The results show that the foot blood flow rate increment after the
intervention was significantly different between the experimental group and the control group, and the
VAS was also significantly different. [Conclusion] Based on the results of this study, we consider that
microcurrent electric stimulation of the foot may be helpful for preventing the pain and diabetic ulcers
by increasing the foot blood circulation in diabetes patients.
Key words: Microcurrent, Diabetic neuropathy

(This article was submitted Jan. 5, 2011, and was accepted Jan. 21, 2011)

INTRODUCTION feet6). Prevention of diabetic ulcers, one of the most
common and serious complications of diabetes is very
The increasing aging of society is associated with a important because it can lead to lower extremity amputation
rising incidence of chronic diseases such as cancer, or can progress to sepsis if wound healing is delayed, thus
diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis. In Korea, the affecting quality of life.
occurrence of diabetes, which is viewed as a representative
chronic disease among these, is showing dramatic increases Microcurrent is now being successfully applied to
largely due to the rapid economic growth of Korea, promote healing in a number of situations including soft
adoption of a Westernized diet, and changes in lifestyle1). tissue healing and the treatment of fracture nonunion,
The worldwide prevalence of diabetes is also increasing: among others7). Microcurrent can be viewed as a form of
about 38% of the population over the age of 65 has electrotherapy, but it differs from general electric
diabetes2). In Korea, diabetes is now the 4th ranking cause stimulation therapies such as transcutaneous electrical nerve
of death3). stimulation, faradizations, or sonophoresis that employ mA
amounts of electric current for the treatment. Instead,
The prevalence of peripheral vascular disease in diabetes electric current of μA magnitude, which is very similar to a
patients increases with age and with duration of the diabetic typical bio-current, is applied for microcurrent treatment,
condition. The incidence of coronary artery, peripheral not only for wound healing, but also for other interventions.
artery, and cerebrovascular disease is also very high among
diabetes patients4). The risk of presenting with peripheral Microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation
arterial diseases is two to four times higher in diabetes (MENS) has drawn attention as a very effective therapeutic
patients than in those without diabetes5). One of the method. This new development in electric treatment has
important symptoms of peripheral vascular disease is evolved from progress in electrical engineering as well as a
ulceration of the foot, which is found in about 6% of new theoretical understanding of the pain repression
diabetes patients. In most cases, foot ulcers occur due to mechanisms in living organisms. Because microcurrents are
macrovascular disease that affects the blood supply to the a very low currents, within the range of physiological
electric currents in the physical body itself, it provides