Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM)

Frequency Specific Microcurrent is a system of treatment using microamperage current and the resonance effects of frequencies on tissues and conditions to create beneficial changes in symptoms and health. This new refinement of microcurrent technology – tiny “doses” of electrical energy – uses very specific frequencies of energy applied to the body in sequence. Correct frequencies are determined by direct observation of how the body responds to them.

Frequencies are pulses per second measured in hertz. They can be sound waves or electronic pulses. The frequencies used in FSM are electromagnetic pulses used on two channels firing at the same time. The frequencies are delivered using a ramped square wave that includes high frequency harmonics to create the square wave. The makes the frequencies more accurately pulses rather than the pure frequencies achieved with a sine wave generator. Most microcurrent devices use square wave pulses because they have been observed to be more effective clinically.

Microcurrent is electrical current in millionths of an ampere. An ampere is a measure of the movement of electrons past a point. Microamperage current is the same kind of current your body produces on its own within each cell. This is current in millionths of an amp. It is very small; there is not enough current to stimulate sensory nerves so the current flow cannot be felt. You can tell it is running by watching the conductance meter on the machine.

Frequency protocols are sequences of frequencies observed to have a certain clinical effect in various conditions as determined by practitioners. These protocols may be run once in a treatment session, or may be run repeatedly by using a specifically programmed home unit to self treat. The most commonly effective and useful protocols have been also pre-programmed into automated microcurrent units that sequence through frequencies automatically for those who want to have a home care unit.

The frequency thought to address or neutralize the condition is put on channel A. The frequency thought to address the tissue is put on channel B. The frequencies used in FSM are all less than 1000 Hz. There are frequencies from the list alleged to address over 200 conditions from very common conditions like “inflammation”, “scar tissue”, “mineral deposits” and “toxicity” to very unusual and hard to document conditions like “polio virus”, “trauma” and congestion. There can be no claims made for the effects of the frequencies until research has documented their effects. All that can be said is that use of this or that frequency had this observed effect in this patient with a certain condition.

This device offers exciting promise in working with tissues unresponsive to conventional efforts such as nerve pain, damage or injury, scar tissue, adhesions, and the ability to facilitate healing of acute and chronic injuries. GMA also finds it is a useful supportive treatment as part of comprehensive treatment for chronic conditions like chronic Lyme disease, CFS, and fibromyalgia.

The Basis for Microcurrent Electrical Therapy

Gordon Medical finds that FSM is a very useful modality in treating Lyme disease.  It  is an exciting new way of treating nerve and muscle pain and many other conditions using specific frequencies and micro amperage current. The practitioner applies the current using a battery operated unit with lead wires that attach to gloves, probes, or sticky pads that are then applied to the patient’s skin. Skilled practitioners use their knowledge of specific frequencies, along with the distinctive change in tissue that happens in the body when the right frequency is used. 

Published Articles on FSM

The frequencies appear to change a variety of conditions and tissues, and change pain and function in a large number of clinical conditions. FSM is especially effective at treating nerve and muscle pain, inflammation, and scar tissue.

• Cytokine Changes with Microcurrent Treatment of Fibromyalgia Associated with Cervical Spine Trauma
• Microcurrent Increases Fat Loss with Exercise
• Microcurrent Therapy – A Novel Treatment For Chronic Low Back Pain
• FSM Treatment for Head – Neck – Face Pain
• Nonpharmacologic Treatment of Neuropathic Pain Using FSM
• Non-Pharmacologic Treatment of Shingles
• The Efficacy of FSM on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
• Treating Lyme Disease with Frequency Specific Microcurrent
• Visceral and Somatic Disorders – Tissue Softening with FSM

No technique is 100% effective and FSM is no exception. The effectiveness of FSM depends almost entirely on an accurate diagnosis. Shoulder pain can come from muscles, tendons, bursa, discs, nerves or joints. FSM will treat all of these pain generators effectively. But, if you are treating for muscle and the shoulder pain is from nerves or the bursa you may change the muscle but you won’t change the patient’s pain since it is not coming from the muscle. This analogy applies to every condition.

Every patient is advised to drink at least one quart of water in the hour preceding treatment. Patients who are dehydrated do not find FSM as helpful. Athletes with large muscle mass and inadequate water intake and patients over 70 who are chronically dehydrated have the most problems. Patients who are chronically dehydrated may need more water over several days prior to their treatments.

Women who are pregnant or may be pregnant should discuss treatment with their physician. It is not known that FSM will harm the fetus, but studies have not been done. No problems have ever been observed in a patient treated who was found later to have been pregnant at the time of treatment so the recommendation is based on prudence rather than negative experience.

Patients with cancer may also avoid treatment. Again, this is based on caution rather than known negative side effects. Consult your practitioner to find out whether this applies to you.

There are frequencies used to remove scar tissue that should not be used with 6 weeks of the time of a new injury.

Microcurrent provides electrons, and in published studies increases ATP production in cells. Lasers provide photons. We are unaware of any research suggesting that laser treatment increases ATP production. Lasers oscillate at set frequencies and provide beneficial results but usually only provide one frequency at a time instead of the dual frequencies used in FSM treatment. Lasers provide whatever benefits they provide by some other method than frequency specific resonance and ATP enhancement.

Seegers-2001-ATP

Seegers-2002-TENS-ATP

Microcurrent is approved in the category of TENS devices by the FDA. TENS devices deliver milliamp current and block pain messages that are trying to get up the spine to the brain.

Microcurrent delivers subsensory microamperage current, 1000 times less than milli-amperage current, which has been shown in published studies to increase ATP production in tissues.

Ultrasound creates ultrasonic vibrations and creates heat by vibrating the water molecules in the tissue. It does not provide current nor does it change ATP status. It provides beneficial results by these mechanisms but it is just completely different than microcurrent.

You can come to the office and receive a session with one of our Techs, or you may purchase a home unit in order to run the FSM protocols at home. Home units are by prescription.

We recommend that you have one or more sessions in the office in order to find how your body responds to FSM. Your home unit can be programmed specifically for your use. Working with a body tech in advance will allow us to choose programs designed especially for you.

FSM works most effectively when you are well hydrated. The day before your session you should be sure to drink several quarts (liters) of pure water. Tea, coffee, and sodas do not count in the needed amount, as they will cause you to flush the fluids out more quickly. Be sure to drink at least one quart in the hour before your treatment. Continue to drink this quantity of water, at a minimum, the day of your treatment, before and following the session.

If you are coming in to the office to have a treatment, your GMA doctor will discuss with the FSM Tech what issue they want addressed. You will receive the treatment in a warm, quiet room, lying on a massage table. Because the electrodes are applied with damp cloths, you may be asked to remove some of your clothing for the session. The Tech will begin with frequencies that are known to impact the issue you have, but will also experiment with other frequencies in order to find the optimum treatment for you. Frequencies that are positively reacting in your body cause a distinct change in the feel of the tissue, which the Tech can read. This guides them to the best protocol for you, individually. If you are planning to use a home unit, they may write up your personal frequencies into a protocol specific to you.

You should feel no discomfort during the session. GMA doctors have found that patients who are chronically ill may be unable to tolerate the amperage that other less ill patients do well on. They will check with you, and lower the strength of the current to the place that is best for your body. You may feel a slight buzzing, but no more than that. Being well hydrated will make the treatment most comfortable as well as most effective, and also assists the detoxification that can occur after treatment.

Treatment is individual to the patient and the condition. Treatments by one of our technicians may require only one session, or more. The session usually runs for 60 minutes, and may include other types of work during that time. FSM is highly compatible with other types of treatment.

Home care is even more individual. Some conditions can be treated in a brief session of a few minutes, one time only. Other conditions require longer periods of time, with repeated treatment to maintain the improvement. Most of the individual frequencies in a protocol will run for 1-3 minutes, with the full protocol running for 30-60 minutes. If you are taking a unit home to try out, you may run as many protocols as your practitioner recommends.

No, a prescription is not required for in office treatments, though information your practitioner gives to the FSM technician can be helpful in pinpointing specific issues. FSM sessions are available for self referral by GMA patients and the public.

Home Care FSM units do require a prescription to ensure you have the correct protocols to run for your individual needs.

You do not need to purchase anything if you are having a session in the office.

Home FSM units are available for purchase or rental programmed with custom protocols for your specific needs. If you choose to use these home units with self sticking electrodes or gloves rather than wet cloths, you will need to purchase those items.

Contact the office through the Patient Portal or (707) 575-5180 to find out the fees involved and how to order  units.

Dr. McMakin has been using FSM since 1994 and various practitioners have been using FSM since 1997. There have been no permanent adverse effects attributable to the use of the microcurrent units or to the use of the frequencies. There are no risks to the patient that we know about as long as the practitioner follows the proper contraindications and precautions associated with both FSM and the use of microcurrent.

There are frequencies used to remove scar tissue that should not be used with 6 weeks of the time of a new injury. Sometimes when muscles are successfully treated range of motion increases so much that joints and nerves can become temporarily painful until range of motion goes back down.

Practitioners are aware of these possible reactions and are advised to warn patients about them. After muscles are treated there is sometimes a detoxification reaction that occurs 90 minutes after treatment similar to that seen with massage therapy. This can be lessened by having the patient drink water and take an anti-oxidant combination.