Changing Their Minds: Enhancing Poststroke Occupational Performance Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation.
Stroke remains a leading cause of disability, with survivors experiencing long-term decrements in independence and quality of life. Occupational therapists (OTs) employ numerous neurorehabilitative treatment approaches to remediate impairments that are impeding performance. OTs also use physical agent modalities to facilitate increased participation and success in therapy. One such modality is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a form a noninvasive brain stimulation that can be overlaid onto task practice and delivers a constant, low intensity current into the brain. tDCS is safe, portable, and efficacious in remediating a variety of deficits, yet is not consistently incorporated into clinical practice. The authors discuss the mechanisms, safety, evidence, and potential applications of tDCS to enhance outcomes for this growing population.
a Division of Occupational Therapy , The Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio , USA.|b B.R.A.I.N. Laboratory (Better Rehabilitation and Assessment for Improved Neuro-recovery) , Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio , USA.
Heather T
HT
Peters
c Occupational Therapy , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , Utah , USA.
Lorie
L
Richards
a Division of Occupational Therapy , The Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio , USA.|b B.R.A.I.N. Laboratory (Better Rehabilitation and Assessment for Improved Neuro-recovery) , Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio , USA.
Brittani A
BA
Basobas
a Division of Occupational Therapy , The Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio , USA.|b B.R.A.I.N. Laboratory (Better Rehabilitation and Assessment for Improved Neuro-recovery) , Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio , USA.
Julie M
JM
Faieta
a Division of Occupational Therapy , The Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio , USA.|b B.R.A.I.N. Laboratory (Better Rehabilitation and Assessment for Improved Neuro-recovery) , Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio , USA.
Stephen J
SJ
Page
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*
hemiparesis; motor control