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

OBJECTIVE: We would like to determine whether electrotherapy, specifically microcurrent therapy, increases function and decreases pain in people who have acute knee pain. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. SETTING: University laboratory and patient home. SUBJECTS: A total of 52 subjects (35 females and 17 males) with acute knee pain. INTERVENTION: Treatment group (n = 26) wore the active microcurrent therapy device at home for 3 hours per day for 4 weeks and the control group (n = 26) wore the placebo for 3 hours per day for 4 weeks. MAIN MEASURES: Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Short Form 12 (SF-12) health scale were used to measure the pain level and the functionality of the participants. Secondary assessments included musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging (MSK US) and Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS). RESULTS: A total of 52 subjects completed the study; 26 in the treatment group and 26 in the control group. Microcurrent therapy significantly reduced pain over 4 weeks. Especially week three was significant (P < 0.01) after adjusting for the family-wise error rate. The analysis on SF-12 revealed those with microcurrent therapy showed an increasing trend in the improvement of physical function score until week three. CONCLUSION: An active microcurrent therapy device decreased knee pain and increased function. Microcurrent therapy may be an alternative or used with a pharmacological approach for people with acute knee pain.