Bio-Electric Stimulation Therapy (BEST), also known as micro current electro therapy (MET), is a specific form of electrotherapy

Electrotherapy

Electrotherapy is the use of electrical energy as a medical treatment In medicine, the term electrotherapy can apply to a variety of treatments, including the use of electrical devices such as deep brain stimulators for neurological disease. The term has also been applied specifically to the use of...

 that delivers small amounts of current to the body. Current delivered is less than one milliAmpere

Ampere

The ampere , often shortened to amp, is the SI unit of electric current and is one of the seven SI base units. It is named after André-Marie Ampère , French mathematician and physicist, considered the father of electrodynamics...

, 100 times less than a typical TENS

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is the use of electric current produced by a device to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes...

 machine. BEST mimics what happens within human cells by working to enhance the physiological processes. A study coordinated by Prof. Bert Op 'Eijnde, from the University of College in Hasselt, Belgium, shows that BEST has a positive and statistically significant effect in improving endurance and reducing fatigue and chronic pain. BEST works at a cellular level to boost energy and restore homeostasis

Homeostasis

Homeostasis is the property of a system that regulates its internal environment and tends to maintain a stable, constant condition of properties like temperature or pH...

. Documented effects include:

• an increase in ATP
  Adenosine triphosphate
  Adenosine-5'-triphosphate is a multifunctional nucleoside triphosphate used in cells as a coenzyme. It is often called the "molecular unit of currency" of intracellular energy transfer. ATP transports chemical energy within cells for metabolism...
  
  
  • Independent studies show that BEST can increase ATP production by up to 500%
• enhanced transmembrane transport, which include:
  • amino acids (building blocks of all proteins)
  • proline
    Proline
    Proline is an α-amino acid, one of the twenty DNA-encoded amino acids. Its codons are CCU, CCC, CCA, and CCG. It is not an essential amino acid, which means that the human body can synthesize it. It is unique among the 20 protein-forming amino acids in that the α-amino group is secondary...
    
     (important in connective tissue repair)
• Stimulation of fibroblasts
  • These cells orchestrate tissue healing and regeneration

BEST in post-polio syndrome

A study on the use of BEST in the treatment of Post polio syndrome was coordinated by Prof. Bert Op 'Eijnde, directed by Dr.Sally Sennitt, and sponsored by Kingfisher Healthcare, a European healthcare company. Twenty-five patients were recruited from four different countries and were tested in three main endpoints: fatigue, endurance and pain.

Fatigue

The average score showed a 34% reduction of fatigue (p <0.0001). 8 out of 10 patients had a positive response

• 50% had a major response (> 30% improvement, ranging from 32% to 74%)
• 36% had a minor response (10-30% improvement)
• 14% showed no change

Endurance

The average score showed a 40% improvement of endurance (p <0.0001). 4 out of 5 patients benefited.

• 53% had a major response (> 40% improvement, ranging from 41% to 88%)
• 26% had a minor response (10-40% improvement)
• 21% showed no change

Pain Relief

The average score showed a 34% reduction in pain (p <0.0001). 7 of 10 subjects had improvement in pain.

• 50% had a major response (>30% improvement; ranging from 34% to 93%)
• 22% had a minor response (10-30% improvement)
• 28% showed no change

Conclusion

The study concluded that Bio-Electric Stimulation Therapy is a promising new tool for improving the quality of life for Post-polio patients.