title: Microcurrent application as analgesic treatment in venous ulcers: a pilot study.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of microcurrent electrical stimulation on pain and area of venous ulcers. In a pilot study for a single-blind controlled clinical trial, carried out at an outpatient clinic during four weeks, 14 subjects with venous ulcers (mean age 62±9 years) were divided in two groups: microcurrent (n=8) and control group (n=6). Pain (by Visual Analogue Scale) and the ulcer area were measured by planimetry. There was a significant difference between the two groups with respect to pain (microcurrent group from 8.5 (6.5-9.75) to 3.5 (1-4.75) and control group from 7.5 (5.75-10) to 8.5 (5.5-10), p<0.01). Non-significant changes were found with respect to ulcer area (planimetry by graph paper, p=0.41 and by Image J, p=0.41). In conclusion, the application of microcurrent improves the pain of patients with venous ulcers (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01372020).
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil. raciele@ufpr.br
authors.forename: Raciele Ivandra Guarda
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Korelo
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valderramas
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ternoski
authors.forename: Danilo Sanches
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Letícia Fernandes
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Andres
authors.forename: Sandra Mara Meireles
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Adolph
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000150:complications*