The efficacy of Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) Therapy on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

ResonantEquus
Jan 18
2 min read

THE STUDY: How FSM impacts Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

This controlled study from 2010 investigated whether Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) therapy reduces Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) more effectively than sham therapy or untreated controls.

THE STUDY DESIGN

Thirty-five healthy participants (18 men, 17 women; mean age = 32 ± 4.2 years) performed an eccentric leg curl exercise protocol designed to induce muscle soreness. Each participant received FSM treatment on one leg (20 minutes, dual-channel specific frequencies) while the opposite leg served as the untreated control.

Soreness was rated using a 0–10 visual analogue scale (VAS) before exercise and 24, 48, and 72 hours afterward. Baseline soreness did not differ between legs (p = 1.00). FSM-treated legs showed significantly lower soreness at all post-exercise time points.

CONCLUSION

FSM therapy using two-channel specific frequency pairs significantly reduced DOMS compared with the untreated leg, suggesting frequency specificity is key to its effectiveness—contrasting with prior findings that single-frequency microcurrent therapy shows no benefit.

POSSIBLE MECHANISMS: HOW DOES IT WORK?

Several biological mechanisms may explain FSM’s protective effect against DOMS:

Resonant Recognition Model (RRM) and frequency–protein coupling: The RRM suggests that proteins and other biomolecules exhibit characteristic resonant frequency signatures derived from their amino acid sequences. When external microcurrents use specific frequency pairs, they may interact resonantly with these molecular frequencies, selectively modulating the activity of proteins involved in inflammation, nociception, and tissue repair. In this context, FSM’s clinically observed tissue and pain effects in DOMS may reflect targeted resonance with key signaling or structural proteins, offering a biophysical explanation for why precise frequency pairing is critical, whereas non‑specific or single‑frequency stimulation is not effective.
Reduction of inflammation: FSM may decrease inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL‑1β, TNF‑α) and modulate prostaglandin synthesis, leading to less post-exercise inflammatory pain.
Enhanced cellular repair: Microcurrent may increase ATP production by up to 500% in damaged tissues, supplying energy for protein synthesis and membrane repair.
Normalization of tissue conductivity: Specific frequency pairs could resonate with injured tissue types (e.g., muscle membrane or connective tissue), helping restore normal electrical signaling and ion exchange.
Improved microcirculation and lymphatic flow: FSM may enhance blood and lymph flow, facilitating removal of metabolic waste and reducing local edema.
Neural modulation: Frequency-specific effects on C-fiber firing or dorsal horn activity might blunt nociceptive transmission, shortening the pain phase of DOMS.

REFERENCES

Curtis D, Fallows S, Morris M, and McMakin C. The efficacy of frequency specific microcurrent therapy on delayed onset muscle soreness. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. Volume 14, Issue 3, 2010, Pages 272-279.

Cosic I. Macromolecular bioactivity: is it resonant interaction between macromolecules? Theory and applications. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 1994;41(12):1101-1114.

Note: check out the Resonant Recognition Model here.