LOW VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION AND WOUND HEALING IN RABBITS: EFFECT OF ALTERING FREQUENCY

The effect of electrical currents by different modalities on wound healing has been experimented. In this study a survey of the literature shows different results, and the mechanisms of action have not been elucidated for certain. The aim of this study was to compare the results obtained from low voltage-square wave stimulation of different frequencies. Results show that the healing period for the control group (14.9 ± 0.58 days) was reduced to 11.28 ± 0.52 and 10.37 ± 0.7 days for groups receiving 20 and 80 Hz stimulation respectively. This implies that wound closure as an index of wound healing was significantly increased in animals receiving 80 Hz stimulation. Tensile strength was increased from 2013 ± 192 grams in controls to 2589 ± 235.1 grams in the 80 Hz-receiving study group. We concluded that electrical stimulation can affect the process of healing and a stimulation of 80Hz is more effective than other frequencies.