Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Mirror Therapy on Upper Limb Motor Function for Patients after Stroke / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the effects of combination of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and mirror therapy (MT) on upper limb motor function after stroke. Methods:From April, 2018 to March, 2019, 78 stroke inpatients were randomly assigned into tDCS group (n = 26), MT group (n = 26) and combined group (n = 26). All the patients received their related therapy, respectively, based on routine medicine and rehabilitation. Their motor-evoked potential cortical latency (CL) and central motor conduction time (CMCT) in affected brain area were measured before and four weeks after treatment, while they were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and modified Barthel Index (MBI). Results:All CL, CMCT, and the scores of FMA-UE and MBI improved significantly in all the groups after treatment (|t| > 2.609,P < 0.05), and improved more in the combined group than in both tDCS group and MT group (P < 0.05). Conclusion:Both tDCS and MT could improve excitability of cerebral cortex of the affected brain area and promote the recovery of upper limb motor function for patient after stroke, and it is more effective in combination mode.