Listen to this articleRussian scientist, Dr. Yakov Kots developed Russian current in 1977s, for increasing muscle force that increases the maximum voluntary contraction. It is a medium frequency current.
It is an intermittent alternating sinusoidal current with a carrier frequency of 2500Hz and delivered in bursts or series of pulses. So, it is known as medium frequency, burst alternating current.
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| Russian Current |
Russian current is most often used to strengthen muscles. it is also commonly used to re-educate muscle groups after a nerve pathway has been damaged, such as in the case of someone who has had a stroke
Although it is a medium frequency current, the nerve is stimulated because it is interrupted to give a low-frequency stimulation of 50Hz
Difference Between IFT and Russian Current-
IFT and Russian Current both are medium frequency current. These current have frequencies between 1 kHz and 10 kHz.
Interferential Current are Amplitude modulated and Russian Current are Time modulated.
Parameters of Russian Current
- Carrier Frequency: 2500Hz (2.5KHz)
- Waveform: Polyphasic sinusoidal waveform.
- Current Amplitude: The maximum current amplitude is 100mA. Clinical used at 70mA.
- Bursts Frequency: 50Hz
- Burst duration: 10ms
Characteristics
On/Off Ratio:
The on-off ratio is defined as the ratio of the time during which there is stimulation (contraction) to the time during which there is no stimulation (no contraction). Set as 10ms:10ms.
Duty cycle:
The duty cycle is the proportion of on-time to the summation of both the on and off time expressed as a percentage. For example 10:10 sets up a duty cycle of =10/(10+10) ×100= 50%. Russian current produced with a duty cycle of 50%.
Ramp-up and down:
Setting the ramp time is very important to evoked contraction similar to muscle contraction. As the ramp allows a gradual increase of intensity with associated gradual increase of muscle contraction. Set for 1-2second.
Training Protocol With Russian Current
The widely and most popular clinical protocol used with Russian current is (10/50/10),
which is-
- 10= Muscle contraction, lasting for 10seconds.
- 50= off time (no contraction) for 50 seconds.
- 10= Cycle repeated for 10 times.
Duration and frequency of treatment:
The recommended duration of treatment is 10 minutes, once daily, per week for several weeks (3-6months).
Electrode placement:
Arranged parallel to the direction of muscle fibers. so that it is at the estimated line of pull of the muscle.
Time delay switch:
- Synchronous mode ( both channels triggered simultaneously- achieved by not setting time delay)
- Reciprocal mode (channel 1 is on then channel 2 is off- achieved by setting time delay equal to the time of channel 1).
- Overlapping mode (channel 2 overlaps with on time and off time of channel 1- achieved by setting time delay more than 1 sec but less than on the time of channel 1)
Physiological Effects of Russian current
The net physiological effects depends on:
- The total number of bursts delivered per second.
- Russian current can depolarized:
- Sensory nerve fibers- Moderate prickling sensation
- Motor nerve fibers- titanic muscle contraction.
- This contraction is-
- Painless due to sensory nerve blocked of pain gate
- Allow use of high amplitude
- Contraction stronger than those generated by voluntary control(voluntary contraction- motor units recruited asynchronously while in electrically evoked muscle contraction- motor units fire synchronously).
Therapeutic Effects/Protocol –
To achieve muscle hypertrophy and strength as well as for reduction of muscle spasm or to reduce edema the following protocols are usually followed-
Protocol for muscle strengthening/hypertrophy
- Amplitude: Tetanic muscle contraction
- Pulse rate (Burst frequency):50–70 Hz
- Pulse duration: 150-200µs
- Apply current during the following volitional activities-
- Isometric exercise at several points through ROM.
- Slow isokinetic exercise, e.g. 5-10˚/sec.
- Short arc joint movement when ROM restricted.
- 10/50/10 – Rule applied
Protocol for spasm reduction-
- Amplitude: Tetanic muscle contraction up to patient tolerance.
- Pulse rate(Burst frequency)- 50-70Hz
- Pulse duration: 50-175µs
- Muscle contraction: isometric
- On-time– 5-12seconds and off—8-15 seconds
Protocol for reducing edema(Due to lack of muscle contraction)
- Amplitude: small visible muscle contraction
- Pulse rate (Burst frequency): 35-50 Hz.
- Pulse duration: around 400µs.
- On: off time: An on-time of 1-2 seconds and an off time of 1-2secs promote pumping of muscle
- Treatment time: 10-15 mins/session( can be used more than once a day)
INDICATION
- The only indication for using Russian currents as introduced by knots in 1977s is to strengthen the muscular system of healthy and athletic persons.
- Post-knee ligament surgery
- Post arthroscopic knee surgery
- Following ligament sprain
- Post casting
- Muscle spasm
CONTRAINDICATION
- Over the anterior cervical area
- The lumbar or abdominal area during pregnant
- Hemorrhagic area
- Neoplastic area
- Metallic and electronic implant
- Impaired skin sensation
