Effects of anodal tDCS and occupational therapy on fine motor skill deficits in patients with chronic stroke.
A growing body of evidence supports the effectiveness of using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in patients with chronic hand motor impairment resulting from stroke.



In this study, we investigate and compare the combined effects of anodal tDCS and occupational therapy (OT) to sham stimulation with OT (control) on fine motor skill deficits of chronic stroke patients.



A total of 26 stroke patients (at ≥ 9 months) were randomly assigned to an active treatment or a control group in a double-blinded, sham-controlled, parallel design study. Each group received OT for 45 min/day (10 sessions for 2 weeks). Treatment was preceded by either 20 minutes of 2 mA anodal tDCS over ipsilesional M1 or sham tDCS. A modified Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (mJTHFT) was administered as primary outcome measure, and handgrip dynamometer and upper limb Fugl-Meyer (ULFM) assessments were performed as secondary outcomes. The assessment was done at baseline (T0), after the interventions on day 1(T1), day 10 (T2) and day 40 (T3).



We observed a statistically significant effect in the tDCS group when the results were compared to the sham group. The mJTHFT times were significantly shorter immediately after treatment and at day 40. The intervention had no effect on handgrip strength or ULFM score.



Fine motor skill deficits in chronic stroke survivors can be improved when intensive OT is primed with anodal tDCS over the ipsilesional hemisphere.
Clinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.|Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Nela V
NV
Ilić
Clinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.|Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Emilija
E
Dubljanin-Raspopović
Clinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.|Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Una
U
Nedeljković
Clinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.|Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Sanja
S
Tomanović-Vujadinović
University of Belgrade Institute for Medical Research, Belgrade, Serbia.
Sladjan D
SD
Milanović
Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.|University Children Hospital, Belgrade, Serbia.
Ivana
I
Petronić-Marković
Department of Neurology Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia.|Medical Faculty of Military Medical Academy, University of Defense, Belgrade, Serbia.
Tihomir V
TV
Ilić
D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Stroke recovery; non-invasive brain stimulation; occupational therapy; rehabilitation; transcranial direct current stimulation