Russian CurrentDr. Mohammed TA Omar

Russian CurrentRussian current is an even alternating medium frequency, applied as series of bursts, which is developed by Russian physiologist named Yakov Kots 1977. Physical Characteristics of Russian CurrentCurrent Frequency: 2.500Hz ( 25KHz).Wavefrom : The most commonly used is Polyphasic sine wave.Current Amplitude: The maximum current amplitude is 100mA with the most clinical used is 70mA.Bursts frequency: Russian current is commonly delivered at 50bursts per second (why), with 25 pulse in each burst.

On: Off Ratio versus Duty Cycle. 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).For example 10:40For example 10:50These the optimal recommended ratio that induced muscle strengthening, because it Allow an adequate period of rest (no-contraction) during off time, between successive evoked contraction (on time), which is very important to prevent muscle fatigue.

Duty cycle; Duty cycle is the proportion of on time to the summation of both the on and off time expressed as percentages.For example 10:50 sets up a duty cycle of =10/ (10+50)x 100=16.7%.The Russian current produced with 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 gradual increase of intensity with associated gradually increase of muscle contraction.

Training protocol with Russian current The widely and most popular clinical protocol used with Russian current is (10/50/10), which is muscle contractions, lasting for 10 seconds, and separated by 50seconds and this cycle is repeated 10 times .Duration and frequency of treatment; The recommended duration of treatment is 10 minutes, once daily per week for several weeks (3-6months)

Physiological Effects of Russian Current

The net physiologic effects depends on

The total number of bursts delivered per second, (not the total number of pulses within each burst) is determine the magnitude of the physiological effects induced at the peripheral nerve level as each burst of pulses is seen as a single pulse at the nerve/muscle membrane.

As a result, the repeated delivery of these bursts of pulses at a given current amplitude induces motor nerve depolarization leading to muscular tetanic contraction.

Russian current is believed to have the capacity to depolarized both sensory and motor nerve fibers to evoked tetanic muscle contraction that are painless (due to sensory nerve blocked) and stronger 40% than those generated by voluntary control.

The net physiologic effects of depends on

Because of painless effect of Russian current, higher amplitude can be applied to deeper motor nerve fibers, which are associated with high force fast-twitch motor unit.

During the voluntary muscle contraction, motor unit are recruited asynchronously and, according to the size principle, in order from slow, type I motor units to fast type II motor units.

During electrically evoked muscle contraction, motor unit fire synchronously , and in reverse order from fast type II motor units to low, type I motor units.

Russian currentMedium frequency modulated sinusoidal current

Depolarization of sensory and motor nerve fibers Synchronously, motor nerve depolarization induce activation of fast type II motor unitsHigh level electrically evoked muscular contraction Contraction against external loadMuscle strengthening

Indication and Contraindications for Russian CurrentIndications The only indication for use of Russian current as introduced by Kots in 1977 , is to strengthening the muscular system of healthy and athletic personsPost-knee ligaments surgeryPost-arthroscopic knee surgeryFollowing ligament sprainContraindications Over the anterior cervical areaOver the trnasthorcic areaOver the lumbar or abdominal area during pregnantOver hemorrhagic areaOver neoplastic areaOver metallic and electronic implantOver area of impaired skin sensation