Purpose/Hypothesis: To determine if agreement
exists between microcurrent conductance through the skin over an injury, myoglobin levels in the serum,
and diagnostic ultrasound measurements of swelling. Number
of Subjects: 140. Materials/Methods: Subject underwent
microcurrent conductance, serum myoglobin, diagnostic ultrasound, and strength
testing before and after delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) was induced.
Non-control subjects were also given a therapy wrap, dry heat, moist heat, or
cold, either applied immediately or delayed 24 hours. Results:
After induction of DOMS, there was agreement between significant 37%
decreases in microcurrent conductance, significant
37% serum myoglobin increases, and significant 20% increases in quadriceps
size, measured by diagnostic ultrasound. When either dry heat or cold was
applied immediately, changes in these measurements were insignificant and less
than 10%. Agreement was weaker when treatment was delayed 24 hours. Also, cold
packs showed less than a 5% decrease in microcurrent conductance for covered
areas compared to a 22% decrease for uncovered areas around the knee with 24
hour delay. Moist heat packs showed an insignificant change overall, but a
significant 11% decrease for the covered center of the quadriceps with
immediate treatment. Strength decreased 25% after DOMS, and all immediate
treatments, along with 24 hour delayed cold and moist heat showed significantly
smaller decreases. Conclusions:
Changes in microcurrent conductance through the skin over injured tissue appear
to be indicative of initial injury and recovery, and also for detecting the
specific area of the injury. Clinical Relevance: Microcurrent through the skin over injured tissue
appears to be a promising objective measurement of tissue injury as well as
recovery from injury.