Study Affirms Benefits of Microcurrent Therapy in Stroke Rehab
A study published in the journal Stroke affirms microcurrent stimulation to the vagus nerve has direct benefits for stroke survivors.
The study shows that microcurrent pulses, like those generated by the Myopulse and Neuroscope, applied to the vagas nerve, which is located in the neck, relays information about the state of the body to the brain. For people suffering weakness and paralysis following a stroke, this promotes neuroplasticity in the brain. Neuroplasticity is a process by which the brain reroutes and reorganizes certain functions, so that people are able to perform them again after a brain injury.
In this double-blind, placebo controlled study, members of the group that received physical therapy only improved an average of three points on the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale, which measures recovery in stroke patients. The group that received physical therapy and vagus nerve stimulation improved by an average of nine points. Patients receiving microcurrent therapy also reported greater range of motion and strength in their affected arms.
Patients in the study were treated with microcurrent during three two-hour sessions times per week for six weeks. This closely resembles the microcurrent therapy program offered by Soter Healthcare for our clients.
“This study demonstrates that vagus nerve stimulation appears to improve the recovery that stroke patients make,” said Dr. Michael Kilgard, a professor of neuroscience at the University of Texas Dallas and contributor to the study.
According to the American Stroke Association, nearly 800,000 people a year in the United States suffer a stroke. Eighty percent of stroke survivors are impacted by hemiparesis, a weakness on one side of the body that can last for the rest of their lives. Through our Destination Medical Care™ and wellness services, Soter Healthcare’s vision is to improve the lives of stroke survivors.
The video below shows how microcurrent works to stimulate the brain’s amazing neuroplasticity.