Russian current is a medium-frequency current delivered in bursts at 2500 Hz. It produces strong muscle contractions through synchronous motor nerve depolarization. Key characteristics include a carrier frequency of 2500 Hz, burst frequency of 50 Hz, burst duration of 10 ms, and a 10/50/10 training protocol. Russian current is indicated for muscle strengthening, reducing muscle spasm and edema, such as following knee ligament injuries or surgery.

1. RUSSIAN CURRENT
NITHIN NAIR (MPT- 1)
UNDER GUIDANCE OF Dr. POTHIRAJ .P (PT)

2. LECTURE OUTLINE
DEFINITION
CHARACTERISTICS
PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
INDICATIONS & CONTRAINDICATIONS
SUMMARY

3. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After this session, the students will be able to:
Define Russian current.
Enumerate the characteristics and
Physiological effects of Russian current.
Enlist the indications and contraindications of
Russian current.

4. INTRODUCTION
 1977 Yakov Kots (Russian physiologist)
 It is basically a medium-frequency current
 It is an intermittent alternating sinusoidal current with a carrier frequency of
2500 Hz.
 Russian Current is a sinusoidal waveform, delivered in bursts or series of
pulses.
 Hence, it is known as medium frequency, burst alternating current.

5. CHARACTERISTICS
 Carrier Frequency
 Waveform
 Current Amplitude
 Bursts Frequency
 Burst Duration
 On / Off Ratio
 Duty Cycle
 Ramp Up & Down
 Training protocol
 Duration & Frequency of Treatment
 Electrode Placement
 Time Delay switch

6. CHARACTERISTICS
Carrier Frequency: 2500Hz ( 2.5 KHz).
Waveform: Polyphasic sinusoidal waveform.
Current Amplitude: The maximum current amplitude is 100mA. Clinical used at 70mA.
Bursts Frequency: 50 Hz.
Burst Duration: 10ms

7. CHARACTERISTICS
On/Off Ratio : 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). Set
as 10ms:10ms
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 10:10 sets up a duty cycle of =10/ (10+10)x 100= 50%.
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. Set for 1-2 seconds

8. CHARACTERISTICS
Training protocol with Russian current: The widely and most popular clinical protocol used with Russian
current is (10/50/10), which is
10 =Muscle contractions, lasting for 10 seconds
50= off time (no contraction) for 50 seconds
10=cycle repeated for 10 times
Duration and frequency of treatment: The recommended duration of treatment is 10 minutes, once daily
per week for several weeks (3-6months)
Electrode placement: Arranged parallel to the direction of muscle fibers so that it is at the estimated line
of pull of the muscle.
Time delay switch: Synchronous mode (both channels triggered simultaneously- achieved by not setting
time delay.). Reciprocal mode (channel 1 is on then channel 2 is off – achieved by setting time delay
equal to time of channel 1.). Overlapping mode (channel 2 overlaps with on time and off time of
channel 1- achieved by setting time delay more than 1 sec but less than on time of channel 1.)

11. PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
The net physiologic effects depends on
▪ The total number of bursts delivered per second.
▪ Russian current has a capacity to depolarized :
– Sensory nerve fibers Moderate prickling sensation,
– Motor nerve fibers Tetanic Muscle contraction
▪ This contraction is
▪ Painless due to sensory nerve blocked of pain gate
▪ Allow use of high amplitude
▪ Contraction Stronger than those generated by voluntary control (Voluntary contraction –
motor units recruited asynchronously while in electrically evoked muscle contraction –
motor units fire synchronously.)

12. PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
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

13. Therapeutic effects / Protocol
▪ TO IMPROVE MUSCLE
STRENGTH
Amplitude: Tetanic muscle
contraction.
Pulse rate (Burst freq): 50-70
Hz
Pulse duration: 150 -200 µs
Apply current during volitional
– isometrics in different ROM, slow
speed isokinetic and short arc
movements
(10/50/10 – rule applied)
▪ TO REDUCE MUSCLE SPASM
Amplitude: tetanic muscle
contraction up to patients
tolerance.
Pulse rate (Burst freq): 50-70
Hz
Pulse duration: 50 -175 µs
Stimulation is applied to provide
brief isometric contractions
(on time – 5-12 secs and off – 8-
15 secs)
 TO REDUCE OEDEMA (DUE TO
LACK OF MUSCLE
CONTRACTION)
Amplitude : small visible muscle
contraction.
Pulse rate (Burst freq): 35-50 Hz
Pulse duration: around 400 µs
On:Off Time: An on time of 1-2
secs and an off time of 1-2 secs –
promote muscle pumping
Treatment time: 10-15
mins/session (can be used more than
once a day)

14. INDICATIONS & CONTRAINDICATIONS
INDICATIONS
▪ The only indication for use of Russian
current as introduced by Kots in 1977
, is to strengthening the muscular
system of healthy and athletic persons
▪ Post-knee ligaments surgery
▪ Post arthroscopic knee surgery
▪ Following ligament sprain (↑ quads
force during immobilization)
▪ Post casting
▪ Muscle spasm
CONTRAINDICATIONS
▪ Over the anterior cervical area
▪ Over the lumbar or abdominal area
during pregnant
▪ Over hemorrhagic area
▪ Over neoplastic area
▪ Over metallic and electronic implant
▪ Over area of impaired skin sensation

15. SUMMARIZE
▪ 2500 Hz evenly alternating Medium Frequency current
▪ Applied as a series of burst .
▪ Physiological effects & Therapeutic effects
▪ Indications & Contraindications
CURRENT AMPLITUDE: ? ON-OFF RATIO: ? TRAINING PROTOCOL: ?
BURST FREQUENCY: ? DUTY CYCLE: ? DURATION & FREQUENCY: ?
BURST DURATION: ? RAMP UP-DOWN: ? ELECTRODE PLACEMENT: ?

16. CURRENT AMPLITUDE:
70 mA
ON-OFF RATIO:
10ms : 10ms
TRAINING PROTOCOL:
10 /50 /10
BURST FREQUENCY:
50 Hz
DUTY CYCLE:
50%
DURATION & FREQUENCY:
10 mins daily (3-6 months)
BURST DURATION:
10 ms
RAMP UP-DOWN:
1-2 sec
ELECTRODE PLACEMENT:
Parallel to muscle fibre

17. References
▪ Electrotherapy explained – Low & Reed (4th ed)
▪ Electrotherapy Simplified – Nanda (1st ed)
▪ Physical agents in Rehabilitation – Cameron (4th ed)
▪ Textbook of Electrotherapy – Jagmohan Singh (2nd ed)
▪ Physical agents in PT (Biophysics & Therapeutic electricity) - Solomen (1st ed)
▪ Handbook of practical electrotherapy – Mitra (1st ed)
▪ Clinical electrophysiology - Andrew Robinson (3rd ed)
▪ Russian current and Burst mode alternating current – Tim Watson (Electrotherapy on
the web.)
▪ www.scribd.com