Improving effect of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with motor relearning program for the upper limb motor function in patients with stroke / 中国脑血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with motor relearning program on the recovery of upper limb motor function after stroke.Methods From September 2015 to June 2016,40 patients with first-ever stroke received rehabilitation therapy at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine,Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University were enrolled prospectively.Their course of disease was 1 to 6 months.They were divided into either a combined treatment group or a control group according to the odd and even numbers in hospital (n =20 in each group).The patients of both groups received traditional rehabilitation training and motor relearning program for upper lindb recovery,2 times a day,once for 30 min,5 days a week for 6 weeks.The combined treatment group was also given transcranial direct current stimulation,2 times a day,once for 20 min,5 days a week,while the control group was only treated with sham stimulation treatment.The patients were assessed before treatment and at 6 weeks after treatment.Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scores and Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) were used to assess upper limb motor function.The modified Barthel index (MBI) was used to evaluate the activities of daily living.Results There was no significant difference in the observation indices before treatment between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).Six weeks after treatment,the differences of the upper limb FMA score and ARAT score before treatment were superior to the control group,they were 13 ± 3,10 ± 3 and 10 ± 2,8 ± 2,respectively (t =3.503 and 3.244 respectively,all P ＜ 0.01).There was no significant difference in the MBI score between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with motor relearning program may effectively improve the upper limb motor function in patients with stroke and promote the improvement of the activities of daily living.