Microcurrent makes waves

A treatment with its origins in ancient civilisations is being developed to offer a form of drug-free pain relief for humans, horses and other animals.

The use of bioelectrical stimulation to treat pain and medical disorders goes way back in human history. In 2750 BC, the ancient Egyptians and Romans were using ‘electric’ fish to relieve pain. From the 17th century onwards, the use of electrical charges in medicine has been regularly documented.

Technology moves apace and from the 1980s onwards, worldwide research into bioelectronic stimulation has developed rapidly. Microcurrent stimulation (MCS) uses a very low current, usually between 1uA and 1000uA (millionths of an ampere) and is thought to work at a cellular level to reduce pain. As yet, it’s unclear exactly how MCS works in practice, but a number of studies have demonstrated that it can have an impact on pain management and can have anti-inflammatory benefits.

Rick Rowan founded London-based NuroKor Bioelectronics, a multinational medical device company, in 2018. NuroKor is pioneering the application of bioelectronic technology for the management of pain, physical recovery, and

Rick suffered with back pain for many years in his native Australia transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device by his therapist.

Being scientifically-minded he tried to understand what it was doing, and why it sometimes worked and why other times it didn’t.

He noticed in his research that there were various frequencies being used and there was no cohesion as to how the studies were done. He started to ask questions about combining frequencies to increase efficacy. As he and his team got better at identifying useful protocols for application, the formulae improved, and more customers were reporting impressive results.

Rick had been disappointed by the lack of natural, nonpharmaceutical pain relief available from his vet for Tank, the family dog.

Tank was suffering with arthritis and inflammation, so Rick decided to try his own NuroKor technology and saw improvement within two weeks.

There is always more research into treatments for human health conditions with animal studies lagging behind, but equine species serve as translational models in the context of wound care, with research into equine microcurrent benefiting from human studies and vice versa.1

In November 2022, NuroKor launched EquiPod equine microcurrent technology.

EquiPod utilises the NuroKor signature microcurrent stimulation, to provide a non-invasive form of treatment to address a diverse range of equine injuries and conditions.

With microcurrent stimulation (MCS), there are many different electrical and waveform parameters that can be adapted, controlled and formulated for certain purposes and intended outcomes. There are variations in current amplitude and most devices utilise a current between 0-500 microamps (µA). One of the most significant factors which has been shown to induce some of the different therapeutic effects of microcurrent is the frequency (hz).

Over the past few decades, the benefits of different frequencies have been widely reported within the international frequency-specific microcurrent movement, and across a range of published papers and scientific literature.

PICTURED

Left: A mobile phone app provides the delivery mechanism for the Equipod microcurrent treatment programmes.

Right: Accessories such as the KorBand situate the device in the correct place for treatment.

Despite this, most pre-programmed microcurrent devices only provide single frequency microcurrent. This means, while there are changes in the current amplitude, all other parameters, including the frequency, remain the same. This can limit personalisation of treatment and explains why single frequency microcurrent will only work for some horses, some of the time.

The EquiPod device (hardware) is paired with a mobile phone app, providing the delivery mechanism for the microcurrent treatment programmes. Accessories, including a KorBand for the body or KorWrap for legs, are used to situate the device in the correct place for treatment. Each programme has been developed for specific intended outcomes and to directly target the affected area or injury, and is formulated using specific waveforms, current levels and frequencies.

NuroKor medical science director Dr Irem Tezer Ates, who has more than 15 years of international experience in research and clinical treatments, including real world clinical experience in electrical stimulation with pain and wounds, has conducted research to establish which frequencies yield particular benefits and these have been sequentially formulated into treatment programmes. Dr Irem carried out a small study (just over 100 people) in 2021 and found that 100% got pain relief from using the NuroKor device.

Veterinarian Carole Holland D.V.M, C.V.A from Wellington, Florida comments: “The EquiPod has been effective for back pain during competition when drugs aren’t allowed. I’ve also recommended it to several clients to use on suspensory ligament disease during recovery and it’s been very helpful.” ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/34042536/

While the EquiPod brand is still in its infancy, the research into MCS in the human field is established globally2. EquiPod is currently investing in conducting small controlled equine studies for primary uses and indications, and plans to facilitate independently run equine studies intended for publication in 2023-2024.

For more information equipod.co.uk. Equipod is available exclusively from The Centre Line.