Contralesional Cathodal versus Dual Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Decreasing Upper Limb Spasticity in Chronic Stroke Individuals: A Clinical and Neurophysiological Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 2932-2941 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Del Felice ◽  
Verena Daloli ◽  
Stefano Masiero ◽  
Paolo Manganotti
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Adriana Baltar ◽  
Daniele Piscitelli ◽  
Déborah Marques ◽  
Lívia Shirahige ◽  
Kátia Monte-Silva

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can enhance the effect of conventional therapies in post-stroke neurorehabilitation. The ability to predict an individual’s potential for tDCS-induced recovery may permit rehabilitation providers to make rational decisions about who will be a good candidate for tDCS therapy. We investigated the clinical and biological characteristics which might predict tDCS plus physical therapy effects on upper limb motor recovery in chronic stroke patients. A cohort of 80 chronic stroke individuals underwent ten to fifteen sessions of tDCS plus physical therapy. The sensorimotor function of the upper limb was assessed by means of the upper extremity section of the Fugl-Meyer scale (UE-FM), before and after treatment. A backward stepwise regression was used to assess the effect of age, sex, time since stroke, brain lesion side, and basal level of motor function on UE-FM improvement after treatment. Following the intervention, UE-FM significantly improved ( p < 0.05 ), and the magnitude of the change was clinically important (mean 6.2 points, 95% CI: 5.2–7.4). The baseline level of UE-FM was the only significant predictor ( R 2 = 0.90 , F 1 , 76 = 682.80 , p < 0.001 ) of tDCS response. These findings may help to guide clinical decisions according to the profile of each patient. Future studies should investigate whether stroke severity affects the effectiveness of tDCS combined with physical therapy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodie L. Marquez ◽  
Alexander C. Conley ◽  
Frini Karayanidis ◽  
James Miller ◽  
Jim Lagopoulos ◽  
...  

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