About Frequency Specific Microcurrent

What is frequency specific microcurrent therapy?

FSM was developed by Dr. Carolyn McMakin in 1995 using frequencies passed on from an osteopath in Canada who had a practice that came with a machine made in the 1920’s. Dr. McMakin developed protocols for the treatment of myofascial pain in 1996 and presented her clinical data at the American Back Society national meeting in December 1997. In 1998, she published the paper on the “Treatment of chronic resistant myofascial pain in the head, neck, and face” in Topics in Clinical Chiropractic. In addition to other published FSM paper.

Dr. McMakin’s textbook “Frequency Specific Microcurrent in Pain Management” was published by Elsevier in 1997. Dr. McMakin began teaching FSM in 1997 to see if the effects of FSM were reproducible. By June 1997 it was clear that the effects were reproducible and the seminars have evolved into a four-day intensive class in the use of frequency protocols, the differential diagnosis of pain generators, and neurologic conditions.

The frequencies were developed in the early 1900s and were used with funky-looking electronic equipment that fell out of use in the 1940s. Microcurrent was introduced as a battery-operated physical therapy modality in the 1980s in Europe and the USA. Microcurrent devices deliver frequencies and current in millionths of an amp and have been shown in published studies to increase energy (ATP) production in cells by 500%

Since 1997, hundreds of practitioners around the world have taken the FSM seminar and use this amazing new technique to help patients recover from myofascial pain, fibromyalgia, sports injuries, concussion and many other health concerns. The FSM seminar teaches frequency protocols, differential diagnosis of pain complaints and hands-on use of the microcurrent equipment. Our students evaluate the seminars consistently with 5/5 value approval ratings

Carolyn McMakin, MA, DC is the leading authority and developer of Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM). She maintains a part-time clinical practice, participates in research and teaches seminars on the use of FSM in the United States, Australia, Ireland and Europe. She has lectured at the National Institutes of Health and at numerous conferences in the US, England, Canada and Australia on the subjects of fibromyalgia and chronic pain syndromes.

Here’s a great example of

how to promote what

FSM can do for patients.

FSM Core Seminar, Videos, and Courses

The FSM Core Seminar covers basic microcurrent information and the use of specific frequencies and protocols thought to address specific tissues and conditions based on the principles of bio-resonance.

The first part of the course focuses on the frequencies and protocols used to treat chronic myofascial pain, new injuries, and injuries less than six weeks old, discogenic pain, post-concussive syndrome and neuropathic pain. The second part of the course focuses on the frequencies needed to treat visceral conditions and functional medicine applications.

The course is geared toward medical, chiropractic, osteopathic and naturopathic physicians, acupuncturists and physical therapists and the assistants who function in all of these clinical settings.

Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) has been taught in seminars since 1997. FSM is now taught as a four-day course available for 32 hours of continuing education credit for many disciplines in most states and it is available as a video course. Practitioners are advised to check with their board if continuing education course credit is important to them.

The course has been taught to chiropractic, naturopathic, osteopathic and medical physicians, physical therapists, acupuncturists, occupational therapists and massage therapists and the assistants who function in their practices.

The course includes lecture time and 6 hours of hands-on practice time. The lecture includes the frequencies, frequency protocols, research data and conceptual framework within which the observed and documented FSM effects can be used and explained.

The conceptual framework comes from physics, biophysics, and thermodynamics but is structured in lay terms. The frequencies and treatment protocols for myofascial pain, disc, facet, and nerve pain are taught on the first day. The protocols and frequencies for treating new injuries, the nervous system and visceral conditions and emotional issues are taught on the second and third days.

FSM effects are very specific to the condition and require an accurate clinical diagnosis to be optimally effective. The course includes refreshers for the accurate diagnosis of discogenic and facet generated pain, neuropathic pain and ligamentous laxity, myofascial trigger points caused by overuse, joint dysfunction and visceral referral.

The 6 hours of practical sessions include how to use the protocols to treat pain complaints in various body parts. The treatment method and application is different than any other way of treating muscular pain for example because the contacts are placed in such a way as to allow frequencies and current to flow through the tissue being treated and pressure is used only to move the tissue while the frequency is breaking up the scar tissue.

Core seminars are taken primarily via on-line video course or through video. Several in-person seminars as well as in-person hands-on FSM practicum training weekends are also taught each year in every region of the US and abroad by Dr. McMakin. The FSM Core seminar practicum can also be provided by one of our certified FSM practicum instructors.

For those in Ireland and the U.K. Denise Curtis MSc, PT teaches an FSM Core seminar at the national training Centre ( ntc.ie ) in Dublin, Ireland that is held over two weekends.

During the practicum portions of the FSM Core seminar, there is generally at least one instructor for every 8-10 students. The Core seminar is available on video or as an online course. and practitioners can learn how to use FSM by reading the frequency Specific Microcurrent in Pain Management textbook. FSM Core video learners can make arrangements with a trained FSM practicum instructor to be trained in the manual techniques and protocols for FSM in physical medicine in a private or small setting tutorial.

Once a year, there is a two day 16 hour FSM Advanced course that provides the complete list of frequencies and protocols not taught in the Core seminar. In the afternoon there are 90-minute advanced in-depth workshops presented by various expert practitioner faculty.

Every other year on this same weekend, there is a two-day International Symposium with guest lecturers and presentations by practitioners sharing case reports and research findings and workshops for both diagnosis and treatment.

There are a two-day instructor training and certification for people wishing to be considered as instructors for the practical sessions.

Core Syllabus for Frequency Specific Microcurrent

Course topics, goals and objectives:

The course covers basic microcurrent information and the use of specific frequencies and protocols thought to address specific tissues and conditions based on the principles of biologic resonance. The first part of the course focuses on the frequencies and protocols used to treat chronic myofascial pain, new injuries and injuries less than six weeks old, discogenic pain, post-concussive syndrome, and neuropathic pain. The third day of the course focuses on the frequencies needed to treat visceral conditions and functional medicine applications.or

At the end of the class:

Students will independently operate a two-channel 3 digit specific microcurrent device. They are observed to be able to turn the unit on, modify the frequencies, amperage, wave slope, and polarity functions.

Students will independently position and place the contacts on the patient and choose appropriate protocols for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar radiculopathies and diabetic neuropathies.

Students will demonstrate at least two protocol selections for low back pain caused by facet joint inflammation.

Students will explain at least three key contraindications, precautions to treatment, or known side effects of using frequency specific microcurrent.

Given one sample patient, students will distinguish between pain caused by spinal facet joints, discs, and lax ligaments.

Students will independently choose at least two appropriate protocols for each of the following conditions: cervical, thoracic, and lumbar radiculopathies and diabetic neuropathies.

The goal of Frequency Specific Seminars is to educate all of our students so that they will be able to accomplish these objectives independently within the scope of their own practice.

Introductions/Introductory Information – 2 Hours

 Proposed mechanisms of action for FSM

 Basic science behind resonance effects

 Creating a stable state for lasting effects

Basics of FSM – 1.50 Hours

 How to set up the device, effects of the current

 Frequency conventions for FSM

 Basic treatment strategies for myofascial trigger points

 Published papers and data supporting use in myofascial trigger points

 Pregnancy precaution

 Frequencies and data supporting use to remove or soften scar tissue and adhesions

 Frequency sequence strategy for treating myofascial pain and trigger points

Setting up the device – .50 Hour

 Demonstration of the use of the manual device

 Current and frequency applied to the group

 Going over the differences in an individual’s ability to detect differences between frequency effects

 Demonstrating the effects of 6 different two-channel frequency combinations

Frequencies and protocol sequences for myofascial pain – 2 Hours

 How to tell if a frequency is correct or if it is working

 Protocol for treating muscle and fascia in myofascial pain

 Includes contact placement and current flow directions

Hands-on Practicum – 3 Hours

 Treating myofascial pain in the neck and shoulder with the patient prone

 The role of the subscapularis in shoulder pain and impingement

 Treating adhesions

Diagnosis and treatment protocols for disc generated pain – 1.5 Hours

 Protocols for acute, subacute, and chronic disc disease

 Exercise protocols for disc pain patients

Differential diagnosis of acute and chronic facet joint generated pain – 1.5 Hours

 Protocols for acute and chronic spinal facet joints as perpetuating factors in myofascial pain

Differential diagnosis of ligamentous laxity, how to recognize it, and when and how to treat it – 1.5 Hours

 Recognize and treat alar ligament instability and dural adhesions at CO-C1 – 2

 Protocol for ligamentous laxity as a perpetuating factor in myofascial pain

Recognizing and treating visceral perpetuating factors in myofascial pain and trigger points – 1 Hour
Treating extremity joints – 1 Hour

 Treating the shoulder and the knee

 Treating arthritis in any joint

 Treating myofascial pain in TMJ

Introduction to the available microcurrent equipment useful for FSM practitioners – 1 Hour

 Practical considerations in choosing equipment for any particular practice

Supine cervical Practicum – 1 Hour

 Treating the neck and shoulders with the patient in the supine position

 Review of the facet, disc and ligament laxity contributions to cervical spine myofascial pain and dysfunction

Treating Injuries and trauma in week 1 to week 6 – post-injury including post-operative pain and fractures – 1 Hour

 Frequency protocols, precautions and treatment considerations in sub-acute injuries

 Protocols for subacute trauma from week 2 to week 6

 Differential diagnosis of shingles when it presents so that it appears to be a new injury

 Treatment protocol for shingles

Management and treatment protocols for acute injuries – 1.5 Hours

 Protocols for acute trauma in the first week after injury

 Protocols for athletic injuries

 Differential diagnosis and treatment of shingles when it presents as if it is a new injury

 Protocol and published paper on prevention of delayed onset muscle soreness

 Protocol for post-operative care as a new injury

 Protocol to enhance healing in acute fracture

 Protocol for healed fractures that remain painful

 Protocol for plantar fasciitis

Supine Lumbar Practicum – 1 Hour

 Treating the lumbar spine with the patient in the supine position

 Reinforcement of visceral contributions to myofascial pain in the lumbar spine

 Review of the mechanics and considerations in facet and disc contributions to lumbar spine dysfunction

Introduction to treating the nervous system with FSM – 1.5 Hours

 Basic organization of the central nervous system

 Frequencies for the nervous system

 Concepts in treating concussion, TBI and MBTI

 Frequencies associated with pathologies for CNS and ANS dysfunction

 Review of functions of different brain areas

 Treatment protocol for post-concussive syndrome

 Treatment protocols for sub-acute and chronic neurodegenerative conditions

 Data documenting effects of FSM in a post-stroke patient with aphasia

 Treatment protocol for migraine

Introduction to diagnosis and mechanisms of vestibular injuries – 1 Hour

 Possible side effects in concussed patients who also have vestibular injuries

 Diagnosis and pathophysiology of vestibular injuries

 Management of vestibular injuries

Nervous system protocols – diagnosis and pathophysiology – 1.5 Hours

 Treating “brain fog” in a clinical setting

 Treatment protocol for sleep disturbance

 Diagnosis and treatment of PTSD

 Data demonstrating effects of FSM in PTSD

 Treatment protocol for PTSD

 How to test and track improvement in PTSD symptoms

Differential diagnosis and pathophysiology of Fibromyalgia and its different causes – 1 Hour

 Treatment protocol for fibromyalgia associated with spine trauma -Protocol and technique for treating dural adhesions

Protocols for treating neuropathic pain including cervical, thoracic and lumbar radiculopathies – 1.5 Hours

 Protocols for treating neuropathic pain including cervical, thoracic and lumbar radiculopathies

 Review of published paper on neuropathic pain

 Brachial plexus traction injuries

 Resolving neural adhesions

 Protocol for reversing neuropathic atrophy

 Treatment protocol for post–herpetic neuralgia

 Treatment protocol for compression neuropathies, carpal tunnel, thoracic outlet and Morton’s neuroma

 Treatment protocol for diabetic neuropathies

 Optional review of RSD / CRPS mechanism and treatment

Practice setting up treatment applications – 1 Hour

 Practice setting up treatment applications for different neuropathic pain treatments

 Dry lab no treatments

 Optional brief extremity treatment practicum

Visceral Applications and FSM treatment protocols – 1.5 Hours

 Visceral Applications and FSM treatment protocols/Immune system

 Gastrointestinal system (Crohn’s, IBS, ulcerative colitis, constipation)

 Liver treatment protocols and data on reducing liver enzymes

 Gallbladder

 Gout

 Pancreas

 Insulin resistance

 Treating the skin

 Enhancing wound healing, treating oral and genital herpes

 Treating skin scar tissue and acne

 Skin anti-aging protocols

 Treating eczema and psoriasis

Practicum -1 Hour

 Practitioners work together in small groups and choose who and what to treat within their own group based on the chosen

person’s symptoms.

Diagnosis and treatment protocols for visceral tissues and systems – 1 Hour

 Treating the endocrine system (adrenals, thyroid, goiter)

 Protocols for breast health

 Treating the Lymphatics and lymphedema

 Protocols for the reproductive system (vaginal scarring, vulvadynia, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids)

 Protocols for the respiratory system (Asthma, bronchitis, COPD, sinus, common cold)

 Treating the cardiovascular system – precautions and protocols

 FSM protocols for emotional conditions and emotional conditions associated with pain complaints

 Wrapping up – dates for advanced course, certification process

*These protocols and statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Resonance Therapy is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition and is to be used as an adjunct therapy.

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What is frequency specific microcurrent therapy?

Core Syllabus for Frequency Specific Microcurrent