2022 Apr 1;31(6):756-763. doi: 10.1123/jsr.2021-0458. Print 2022 Aug 1.
Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz , Carlos López-de-Celis , César Hidalgo-García ,
Vanessa González-Rueda , Paolo Ragazzi , Elena Bueno-Gracia , Luis Llurda-Almuzara ,
Albert Pérez-Bellmunt
Affiliations
PMID: 35365590 DOI: 10.1123/jsr.2021-0458
J Sport Rehabil
Abstract
Background: Capacitive-resistive electric transfer therapy is an interesting rehabilitation treatment to
use in musculoskeletal injuries. The purpose is to analyze the temperature change and current flow in
superficial and deep biceps femoris and quadriceps tissues when applying different protocols of
capacitive-resistive electric transfer therapy.
Methods: Five cryopreserved cadavers (10 legs) were included in this study. Four interventions
(high/low power) were performed for 5 minutes. Dynamic movements were performed to the biceps
femoris and quadriceps. Superficial, middle, and deep temperature were recorded at 1-minute
intervals and 5 minutes after the treatment using invasive temperature meters placed with ultrasound
guidance.
Results: Low-power applications have generated a very low thermal effect and an important current
flow. The high-power capacitive application achieves a greater increase in superficial temperature
compared with low power (P < .001). The high-power resistive application recorded a greater increase
in superficial, middle, and deep temperatures with a greater current flow compared with the other
applications (P < .001).
Conclusion: This study could serve as basic science data to justify the acceleration of the processes of
muscle recovery, improving cell proliferation without increasing the temperature in acute muscle
injuries and increasing the temperature and viscoelasticity of the tissues in chronic processes with this
therapy.
Keywords: CRet; cadaver; physical therapy.