Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with robotic therapy on the rehabilitation of upper-limb motor function of hemiplegic stroke patients / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of cathodic transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) combined with upper limb robot therapy (RT) on the rehabilitation of upper limb motor function in stroke patients.Methods:Forty patients with stroke hemiplegia who met the enrollment criteria were randomly divided into a pseudo-stimulation group ( n = 20) and a stimulation group ( n = 20). In addition to conventional treatment in both groups, ctDCS + RT was used in the stimulation group, and sham stimulation + RT was used in the sham-stimulation group. Treatment was performed 10 times, 5 times per week, for 30 minutes each time. Patients in both groups were evaluated before, during, and after treatment using the Brunnstrom Staging Scale, the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) scale, and the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), respectively. Results:Compared with the same group before treatment, there were statistically significant differences in Brunnstrom’s rating grade Ⅳ for upper limbs and hands in both groups during and after treatment (all P < 0.05). Compared with the same group during treatment, there were statistically significant differences in Brunnstrom’s rating grade Ⅳ for upper limbs and hands in both groups after treatment (all P < 0.05). MBI scores were higher in two groups during and after treatment compared to the same group before treatment (all P < 0.05). MBI scores were higher in two groups after treatment compared to the same group during treatment (all P < 0.05). The MBI scores after treatment in the stimulation group were higher than those in the pseudo-stimulation group ( P < 0.05). The MAS scores of elbow flexion grade 2 and extension grade 4 and shoulder flexion grade 2, extension grade 2, adduction grade 2, and abduction grade 2 were lower in both groups after treatment compared with the same group before treatment (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:Cathodic transcranial direct current stimulation combined with robotic therapy can effectively promote upper limb motor function rehabilitation in stroke patients and is superior to upper limb robotic therapy alone.

Research progress of transcranial direct current stimulation and robotic therapy for the impaired upper limb motor function in stroke patients / 国际生物医学工程杂志

The upper limb dysfunction after stroke has a high incidence,and is difficult to recovery,which seriously affects the patients' activities of daily living and the quality of life.Scholars have been exploring new and effective rehabilitation strategies for upper limb dysfunction after stroke.Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS),a typical form of non-invasive brain stimulation,is widely used in upper limb function rehabilitation by modulating the excitability of the cerebral cortex to improve motion performance.Some results showed that tDCS combined with repetitive rehabilitation training can significantly improve the motion function of stroke patients.Robotic therapy (RT) provides high-intensity,repetitive motion therapy that meets the training needs of patients at different levels.Therefore,tDCS combined with RT can effectively enhance the upper limb function rehabilitation effect of stroke patients.In this paper,the research status of tDCS combined with RT in the treatment of upper limb function after stroke were reviewed such as target patients,treatment methods,rehabilitation effects,combination methods,etc.The research trends and future development ideas in this field were discussed.