Microcurrent therapy delivers extremely low-level electrical currents - comparable in strength to the body’s natural bioelectric signals - to stimulate tissue repair and enhance physiological responses. Its application has extended from clinical healing and pain relief to exercise performance optimization and cosmetic skincare, attracting attention across health, fitness, and beauty tech industries.

In healthy, physically active individuals, MCT has shown potential to reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), support fat loss, and promote muscle remodeling, even when applied post-workout. Likewise, microcurrent-based beauty devices are increasingly marketed for wrinkle reduction and skin tightening.

In sports science, studies indicate that MCT enhances ATP production, aiding muscle recovery and structural adaptation (Cheng et al., 1982; Naclerio et al., 2021). It also appears to stabilize calcium signaling, promote muscle protein synthesis, and support fat metabolism through catecholamine release.

Experimental results show notable improvements in body composition, such as decreased limb fat mass and reduced perception of soreness after resistance or endurance exercise (Naclerio et al., 2019; Curtis et al., 2010). While beneficial trends have emerged, a lack of standardization in current strength, frequency, and application duration across studies remains a limiting factor in translating MCT into precise exercise protocols.

In cosmetic settings, clinical trials suggest microcurrent stimulation can reduce facial wrinkles and improve skin firmness, particularly in forehead and eye areas (Saniee et al., 2012). Devices used in controlled environments produced visible results after 30 sessions, with over 70% of participants expressing satisfaction.

Home-use beauty gadgets combining microcurrent with other technologies like LED and radiofrequency have shown enhanced facial contouring and skin elasticity, though studies often involve small sample sizes and short durations (Pengzhi et al., 2024).

Despite early success, both exercise and beauty applications would benefit from more robust, long-term trials to confirm efficacy and refine best practices. Current findings support MCT as a promising adjunct to training and skincare routines, particularly where comfort, recovery, or visible rejuvenation is valued.