Sarah Hurt .

ISM-Period 5

“Frequency-Specific Microcurrent: What Is It, Procedure Details & Risks.” Cleveland Clinic, 29

Apr. 4 2021, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15935-frequency-specific-

microcurrent. 

 FSM helps treat pain with a low electrical current.

 The low electrical current is delivered to specific parts of your body depending on the
treatment/injury.
 Frequency: measured in hertz (Hz); rate at which the electronic pulse or soundwave is
produced.
 Can use various frequencies while using microcurrent to possibly reduce swelling, reduce
pain, and repair tissue
 The human body creates its own current within its cells
 Electrical current in FSM is one-millionth of an ampere (very small and safe).
 Different frequencies can be selected depending on the tissues involved
 FSM possibly increases the production of ATP in injured tissues by as much as 500%.
 FSM can loosen muscles
 Common Conditions FSM Is Used For:

Shingles Burns Kidney Stones

Asthma Irritable Bowel Syndrome Disc Injuries
Fibromyalgia Diabetes-related neuropathy Neuromas (“overgrowth and
scarring to a nerve after an
injury”)
Tendinopathy Acute or chronic Acute and chronic
musculoskeletal injuries neuropathic pain
Chronic fracture and pone Arthritis Torticollis
pain
Disc injuries/discogenic- and Viscerally referred pain Concussions
facet-based pain
Headaches Plantar fasciitis Sports injuries and Wounds
 Procedure:
o Hydrate before appointment
o Healthcare provider sets specific frequencies for condition
o Current is applied to skin with skin patches or moistened towel.
 Longevity: effects can last several days or longer depending on the condition and pain
level.
 Don’t use FSM on people with pacemakers, implanted pumps, who are pregnant, or have
uncontrolled seizures.
 Possible (But Rare) Side Affects: Nausea, drowsiness
 Sarah Hurt .
ISM-Period 5

Iijima, Hirotaka, and Masaki Takahashi.

“Microcurrent Therapy as a Therapeutic Modality for Musculoskeletal Pain: A

Systematic Review Accelerating the Translation from Clinical Trials to Patient

Care.” Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation, Elsevier, 21 July

2021, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8463469/. 

 Microcurrent can improve shoulder and knee pain without adverse effects.
 This study also showed a major placebo response in treating knee pain.
 The most common cause of disability is musculoskeletal pain which can be treated by
many things like anti-inflammatory drugs, but they have significant adverse affects.
 Microcurrent delivers less than 1 mA of electrical current across the skin without
noticeable sensations or activation of muscle contractions.
 MCT and placebo effects were tested.
 MCT did not have as much of an effect with chronic LBP, but did majorly improve
subacromial impingement-induced shoulder pain and subacute to chronic knee pain.
 “Placebo response accounted for 57% of the overall treatment effect on knee pain, which
was higher than that for shoulder pain (36%) and LBP (0%)
 Sarah Hurt .
ISM-Period 5

Robv. “FSM vs. Microcurrent Therapy: What's the Difference?” Pain Free for Life, 25 Aug.

2022, https://painfreeforlife.com/fsm-vs-microcurrent-therapy-whats-the-difference/. 

 FSM and regular microcurrent both help treat pain and are forms of energy medicine with
electrical stimulation
 Differences Between FSM and Microurrent:
o FSM is based on the idea that different frequency currents can target specific
tissues and promote healing
o FSM uses extremely low levels of electrical current and is usually delivered
through two channels and stimulates your body with 2 different frequencies at the
same time.
o FSM machines are usually big and bulky and require the adjustment of knobs and
dials to change current output
o FSM machines often require towels and water to sufficiently conduct electricity
properly
o Microcurrent treat the body while “running on algorithms which automatically
change those dials and settings”; less complex to work.
o Microcurrent is also said to be able to treat depression, anxiety, stress, brain fog,
poor vagal tone, chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia, and more
 Differences between Microcurrent and TENS:
o TENS units use higher power that they essentially paralyze pain pathways to
block pain signal; only temporary relief
o Microcurrent uses less intense energy impulse; can create long lasting results.
 Differences between Microcurrent and Ultrasound
o Microcurrent can break up scarring and inflammation and encourage the
production of ATP by up to 500% while ultrasound “works through vibration but
does not provide current nor change the ATP status.
o Ultrasound sounds sound waves which vibrates cells and causes them to release
energy that treats inflammation.
 Advantages of Microcurrent
o Gentler than FSM or TENS
o Believed to be more effective than other forms of stimulation in promoting
healing or reducing inflammation,