Effects of Aerobic Exercise Associated with Abdominal Microcurrent: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the short-and long-term effects of microcurrent used with aerobic exercise on abdominal fat (visceral and subcutaneous).Methods: Forty-two female students from a university population were randomly assigned into five group: intervention group (IG) 1 (n=9), IG2 (n=9), IG3 (n=7), IG4 (n=8), and placebo group (PG) (n=9). An intervention program of 10 sessions encompassing microcurrent and aerobic exercise (performed with a cycloergometer) was applied in all groups, with slightly differences between them. In IG1 and IG2, microcurrent with transcutaneous electrodes was applied, with different frequency values; 30-minute exercise on the cycloergometer was subsequently performed. IG3 used the same protocol as IG1 but with different electrodes (percutaneous), while in IG4 the microcurrent was applied simultaneously with the cycloergometer exercise. Finally, the PG used the IG1 protocol but with the microcurrent device switched off. All groups were evaluated through ultrasound and abdominal perimeter measurement for visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat assessment; through calipers for skinfolds measurement; through bioimpedance to evaluate weight, fat mass percentage, and muscular mass; and through blood analyses to measure cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels.Results: After intervention sessions, visceral fat decreased significantly in IG1 compared with the PG. Subcutaneous fat was reduced significantly in all groups compared with the PG. After 4 weeks, almost all results were maintained. Conclusion:The addition of microcurrent to aerobic exercise may reduce fat more than does aerobic exercise alone.

Effects of microcurrents and physical exercise on the abdominal fat in patients with coronary artery disease

“…However, in this study there was a significant loss of visceral fat in both intervention groups; nonetheless, the reduction was not greater in the microcurrent protocol when compared with only exercise protocol. Nevertheless, a study similar to the present, but in healthy subjects, found a significant reduction in visceral fat due to microcurrent [39]. One possible explanation would be the beta-blockers taken by the subjects, given that their mechanism of action is based on competition with endogenous catecholamines at the β-adrenergic receptor level [51], not allowing the activation of β-adrenergic by the effect of electrical current.…”

“…[38] electro-stimulation promotes changes in cells' structure and behavior, by acting on voltage-dependent potassium channels, and on norepinephrine levels. The increase of catecholamines seems to induce a membrane depolarization, which raises intracellular levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, boosting the activation of protein kinase A and lipolytic enzymes (hormone sensitive lipase and lipoprotein lipase) responsible for triglyceride degradation [13], [19], [20] and [39]. The decrease of subcutaneous abdominal fat could be an important achievement, as it increases the activation of deep subcutaneous adipocytes, which are larger in size and with high expression of pro-inflammatory, lipogenic and lipolytic genes and a high proportion of saturated FA, that can be compared to visceral fat in male [12].…”

Acute effects of physical exercise with microcurrent in the adipose tissue of the abdominal region: A randomized controlled trial

“…Ultrasonography was performed using a ViamoTM 7 ultrasound system (Toshiba Medical Systems, Tustin, California) to measure subcutaneous and visceral abdominal fat below the xiphoid apophysis, and navel fat below the navel [16].…”

“…A 25 Hz frequency (impulse duration and resting duration of 20 ms) was used during the first 20 min, followed by another application of 20 min at 10 Hz frequency (impulse duration and resting duration of 50 ms). In the experimental group, the microcurrent's intensity was under each individual's sensitivity threshold (registered values were superior to 700 mA and inferior to 1000 mA) [16,28,29]. In the placebo group, all the procedures were similar to the EG but the microcuurent device was off.…”

“…In addition, exercise promotes muscular cytokines secretion, which may induce systemic effects in the adipose tissue through IL-6 mediated lipolysis and fatty acids oxidation, and irisin-induced white adipose tissue to brown adipose tissue turnover [15]. Also, the use of transcutaneous microcurrent together with aerobic exercise appears to have a cumulative effect in the mobilization of the abdominal adipose tissue, providing means to local abdominal fat treatment [16].…”