Percutaneous Microelectrolysis in Agility, Joint Range and Strength

Plain-language summary

Electrical stimulation has a wide range of clinical applications in rehabilitation, being used for activities such as strengthening, pain control, management of edema, or control of inflammation after injury or surgery. One of the most classic forms of electrotherapy is direct current (DC), which stands out for its particular effects and which are not achieved with other forms of electrical stimulation. A new therapeutic alternative through DC is Percutaneous Microelectrolysis (MEP), which began to have a significant boom in Latin America a couple of years ago. MEP is a minimally invasive procedure in which a low intensity DC is used. MEP has been proposed as a therapeutic resource to reduce muscle contractions and shortenings, thus favoring flexibility, although research to support this effect is lacking. Muscle flexibility is an important component in rehabilitation and training programs. In lower limbs, tightness hamstring muscles is a common condition that limits flexibility and affects sedentary and athletic people. Loss of flexibility of hamstrings has been reported for different sports disciplines, showing a decrease in a high percentage with the exception of sports such as rhythmic gymnastics and dance where flexibility is essential for good performance. Loss of hamstring extensibility has been associated with a higher incidence of muscle tears, patellar tendinopathy, low back pain and alterations in lumbopelvic rhythm associated with compensatory biomechanical changes such as limb shortening, pelvic retroversion, and increased thoracic kyphosis, among others. It is interesting to investigate the effectiveness of MEP in hamstring tightness. A increase in hamstring flexibility can contribute to increased joint range, muscle strength, and lower limb agility.

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