Russian

Current
Dr. Mohammed TA Omar

Russian Current

Russian 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
Current Frequency
: 2.500Hz ( 25KHz).
Russian
Current

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 10:40
For example 10:50
These 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 current
Medium frequency modulated sinusoidal current
Depolarization of sensory and motor nerve fibers
Synchronously, motor nerve depolarization induce activation of
fast type II motor units

High level electrically evoked muscular contraction

Contraction against external load

Muscle strengthening

Indication and Contraindications for

Russian Current
Indications
Contraindications
The only indication for use of Over the anterior cervical area
Russian current as introduced Over the trnasthorcic area
by Kots in 1977 , is to Over the lumbar or abdominal
strengthening the muscular
area during pregnant
system of healthy and athletic Over hemorrhagic area
persons
Over neoplastic area
Post-knee ligaments surgery
Over metallic and electronic
implant
Post-arthroscopic
knee
Over area of impaired skin
surgery
sensation
Following ligament sprain