Improvement of Chronic Post-Stroke Hemiparetic Upper Limb Function after 2 Week Trascranial Direct Current Stimulation

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) could improve the motor function of hemiparetic upper limb in chronic stroke patients through randomized double-blinded, sham-controlled study. METHOD: Twenty chronic post-stroke hemiparetic patients participated in this study. They were randomly assigned into either tDCS or sham group. Anodal tDCS was delivered on lesional primary motor cortex for 20 minutes in tDCS group and 30 seconds in sham group. Just after stimulation, both groups performed the shaping exercise for 30 minutes. Total 10 stimulation sessions (5 session/week for 2 weeks) were administered. Fugl-Meyer motor assessment, box and block test, grasp strength and FIM were assessed before stimulation, after 1 week of stimulation, after 2 weeks of stimulation, and 2 weeks after stimulation. RESULTS: The upper extremity score of Fugl-Meyer motor assessment and box and block test improved significantly in tDCS group compared to sham group (p<0.05). Their improvement lasted significantly for 2 week after stimulation. However, FIM, lower extremity score of Fugl-Meyer motor assessment and grasp power did not improved significantly in tDCS group compared to sham group. CONCLUSION: tDCS can improve the motor function of hemiparetic upper limb in chronic post-stroke patients, and the effects lasted after stimulation. tDCS may be used as an additional tool for stroke rehabilitation.