Effects of Electrical Stimulation on Edema Formation in Different Strains of Rats

Abstract

The finding that two of the three strains of rats responded to ES suggests that some strains of rats may be suitable models for the study of edema. That frogs and rats respond to high-voltage pulsed current suggests that humans might respond similarly.

Effect of high-voltage pulsed current plus conventional treatment on acute ankle sprain

“…These results agree with previous animal studies 7,8,10,11,25,27 that showed the effectiveness of HVPC(-) in the treatment of posttraumatic edema.…”

“…Negative polarity was more effective in most analyzed studies 8,10,11,25,27,28 , unlike a study that selected the anode as the active electrode 14 . This effect was also observed in the present study, in which the HVPC(-) group showed a higher percentage of reduction in edema and also a greater probability of reaching the end of treatment sooner.…”

“…The reduction in edema using this intensity has been shown in several animal studies 7,8,[10][11]25,27,28 . Another study used a current at motor threshold in the treatment of ankle sprain (acute phase) in humans and found no difference between the treatment group and the CG 16 .…”

“…The current intensity was at submotor level, i.e., too weak to elicit a visible motor response. The intensities were chosen based upon animal studies that reported positive results 7,8,10,11,25 . Because the participants were in the acute phase of injury, this intensity would avoid the risks of generating muscle contractions and increase the trauma.…”

The Influence of High-Voltage Electrical Stimulation on Edema Formation After Acute Injury: A Systematic Review

“…6 To confirm that limb-volume changes were caused by edema formation and not frank bleeding, investigators either made skin incisions on the involved limb just before the animal's sacrifice (frogs and rats) 6,13,14,[16][17][18][19]21 or viewed the injury through the animal's translucent skin (rats). 22 If it was determined that a subject suffered a more significant injury, investigators excluded the subject from data analysis. Two studies 15,20 did not mention any confirmatory procedures.…”