Background: Microcurrent electrical stimulation (MES) is a promising line for treating a variety of conditions. Its outcome on the peripheral nerves remains vague.
Objective: The purpose of this work was to assess the impact of MES on nerve conduction velocity (NCV) of the median nerve and pressure pain threshold in healthy people.
Subjects and Methods: It was a randomized single-blind controlled trial that was conducted on sixty healthy students of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University. Participants were assigned randomly into two groups: control and study groups; who were exposed to MES for 30 minutes using a frequency of 10 Hz, and intensity of 100 µA at the volar aspect of the non-dominant forearm. Median NCVs (motor and sensory) and pain pressure threshold were assessed before, immediately after and 30 minutes after the MES application.
Results: Concerning the pain pressure threshold, there was a significant difference between both control and study groups favoring the study group (p-value < 0.05), and between pre and post measures of the sensory distal latency and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) in the study group (p-value < 0.05). While no significant results on median nerve motor parameters were recorded (p-value > 0.05).
Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, a single application of MES over the course of the median nerve in healthy subjects was effective in increasing pressure pain threshold, and sensory distal latency; and decreasing SNCV, So, upon these results MES could be promising in treating painful conditions.