Transcranial direct current stimulation enhances the effect of task-oriented training in the rehabilitation of upper limb dysfunction after stroke / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) before or during task-oriented training on the upper limb dysfunction of stroke survivors.Methods Ninety stroke survivors were randomly divided into groups A,B and C,each of 30.Those in all the three groups received the same task-oriented training,but those in groups A and B received 20 minutes of tDCS of the M1 area of the cerebrum before and during the task-oriented training respectively.Group C was given placebo stimulation during the task-oriented training.The Fugl-Meyer functional upper limb assessment (FMA-UE),a Hong Kong hemiplegia upper limb function test (FTHUE-HK) and the modified Barthel index (MBI) were used to evaluate the outcomes before and after 4 weeks of treatment.Results After 4 weeks of treatment the average FMA-UE,FTHUE-HK and MBI scores of all three groups were significantly better than those before the treatment.Group B's average scores were significantly better than those of groups A and C.Conclusion tDCS significantly enhances the benefits of task-oriented training after stroke.