Transcranial direct current stimulation in the recovery of postural control after stroke: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of multiple sessions of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) during 4 weeks on balance and gait parameters after stroke.


METHODS
Thirty-one stroke patients were included in this randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled crossover study. The Tinetti test was used to assess functional balance and gait after stroke. Secondary measures, Rivermead Motor Assessment (RMA) and Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), were registered to asses both motricity and trunk performance. All tests were administered at baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Both groups received both sixteen 20-min sessions of tDCS and sixteen 20-min sessions of Sham stimulation. Application method between groups was changed after 4 weeks. A general linear repeated measures model was used to analyse the results of our study.


RESULTS
Results revealed an effect on the total score of the Tinetti test (p = 0.049). No significant results were obtained for the RMA (p = 0.166) and the TIS (p = 0.479).


CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study indicates that 16 tDCS-sessions could have a beneficial effect on balance and gait in stroke patients measured with the Tinetti test. However, further research is needed to elucidate these findings. Implications for Rehabilitation Sixteen sessions of tDCS is beneficial in the recovery of postural control in stroke patients. tDCS has to be applied as soon as possible to enhance beneficial effects.
a Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital , Antwerp , Belgium .
Wim
W
Saeys
Luc
L
Vereeck
Christophe
C
Lafosse
Steven
S
Truijen
Floris L
FL
Wuyts
Paul
P
Van De Heyning
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Postural balance; TDCS; stroke; therapeutics