Efficacy of microcurrent therapy versus laser therapy for diabetic foot ulcer on size of the wound

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Diabetes mellitus (DM) will increasingly contribute to years of life and disability worldwide. Approximately 25% of individuals with diabetes will develop diabetic foot ulcers. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of microcurrent therapy compared to low-level laser therapy in terms of wound healing and quality of life among patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Materials and Methods: This study followed a prospective randomized open blinded endpoint assessment (PROBE) design with two parallel groups allocated in a 1:1 ratio. Participants meeting the selection criteria and having diabetic foot ulcers were included. Baseline measurements were taken before randomly assigning participants to the treatment groups. Pre-test and post-test data were collected to evaluate the wound size. Results: The t-test analyses demonstrated significant improvement in both treatment groups (LLLT: t = 41.818, p < 0.001; Micro-Current Group: t = 32.787, p < 0.001). To compare the groups, One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was conducted, indicating a significant difference in ulcer size between the LLLT group (mean value: 62.600, SD=3.035) and the microcurrent therapy group (mean value: 51.933, SD= 6.938). Conclusion: This study concludes that microcurrent therapy is more effective than low-level laser therapy for managing diabetic foot ulcers. The findings suggest that a 3-week intensive physiotherapy therapeutic approach, combined with conventional medical treatment, yields the best results in terms of wound healing.