title: Transcranial direct current stimulation associated with gait training in Parkinson's disease: A pilot randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with cueing gait training (CGT) on functional mobility in patients with Parkinson´s disease (PD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A pilot double-blind controlled, randomized clinical trial was conducted with 22 patients with PD assigned to the experimental (anodal tDCS plus CGT) and control group (sham tDCS plus CGT). The primary outcome (functional mobility) was assessed by 10-m walk test, cadence, stride length, and Timed Up and Go test. Motor impairment, bradykinesia, balance, and quality of life were analyzed as secondary outcomes. Minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) were observed when assessing outcome data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups demonstrated similar gains in all outcome measures, except for the stride length. The number of participants who showed MCID was similar between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CGT provided many benefits to functional mobility, motor impairment, bradykinesia, balance, and quality of life. However, these effect magnitudes were not influenced by stimulation, but tDCS seems to prolong the effects of cueing therapy on functional mobility.
authors: a Department of Physical Therapy, Applied Neuroscience Laboratory , Universidade Federal de Pernambuco-UFPE , Pernambuco , Brazil.
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Costa-Ribeiro
authors: a Department of Physical Therapy, Applied Neuroscience Laboratory , Universidade Federal de Pernambuco-UFPE , Pernambuco , Brazil.
authors: Ariadne
authors: A
authors: Maux
authors: a Department of Physical Therapy, Applied Neuroscience Laboratory , Universidade Federal de Pernambuco-UFPE , Pernambuco , Brazil.
authors: Thamyris
authors: T
authors: Bosford
authors: a Department of Physical Therapy, Applied Neuroscience Laboratory , Universidade Federal de Pernambuco-UFPE , Pernambuco , Brazil.
authors: Yumi
authors: Y
authors: Aoki
authors: a Department of Physical Therapy, Applied Neuroscience Laboratory , Universidade Federal de Pernambuco-UFPE , Pernambuco , Brazil.
authors: Rebeca
authors: R
authors: Castro
authors: a Department of Physical Therapy, Applied Neuroscience Laboratory , Universidade Federal de Pernambuco-UFPE , Pernambuco , Brazil.
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Baltar
authors: a Department of Physical Therapy, Applied Neuroscience Laboratory , Universidade Federal de Pernambuco-UFPE , Pernambuco , Brazil.
authors: Lívia
authors: L
authors: Shirahige
authors: b Department of Physical Therapy, Laboratory of Kinesiology and Functional Assessment , Universidade Federal de Pernambuco-UFPE , Pernambuco , Brazil.
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Moura Filho
authors: c Department of Clinical Neurophysiology , Georg August University , Goettingen , Germany.|d Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Resources , Dortmund , Germany.|e Department of Neurology , University Medical Hospital Bergmannsheil , Bochum , Germany.
authors: Michael A
authors: MA
authors: Nitsche
authors: a Department of Physical Therapy, Applied Neuroscience Laboratory , Universidade Federal de Pernambuco-UFPE , Pernambuco , Brazil.
authors: Kátia
authors: K
authors: Monte-Silva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003463:Cues; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Functional mobility; Parkinson’s disease; gait training; transcranial direct current stimulation; visual cues