Efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation and over-ground walking task on functional mobility and quality of life of stroke survivors

Introduction: High proportion of stroke survivors have impaired functional mobility and decrease in overall quality of life (QoL). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) (non-invasive brain stimulation) and over-ground walking task (OGWT) (functional task-oriented training) have been suggested to improve functional mobility and QoL of stroke survivors. Hence, this study determined the efficacy of tDCS (anodal and cathodal) with OGWT on functional mobility and QoL of stroke survivors. Materials and methods: Seventy eight (78) stroke survivors were randomised into three groups: anodal group (anodal tDCS with OGWT); cathodal group (cathodal tDCS with OGWT) and control group (OGWT only). Participants had two sessions of intervention per week for six weeks. Functional mobility was assessed using 10 meter walk test (10MWT) measuring steps, time and velocity while QoL was measured using Stroke Specific QoL (SSQoL) scale. Significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: Participants (46 males) were aged 56.78 ± 10.24 years. The groups were matched for functional mobility and QoL at baseline and only work/productivity domain of SSQoL showed statistically significant difference (p = 0.028). Each group showed statistically significant improvement between baseline and post-intervention scores of items in functional mobility (p ≤ 0.001) and total SSQoL (p ≤ 0.001). Anodal group showed better statistically significant improvement in step (p = 0.008), time (p = 0.024), velocity (p = 0.001) and total SSQoL (p = 0.016) among the groups when the mean differences were compared. Conclusion: tDCS with OGWT is efficacious in improving functional mobility and QoL of stroke survivors. Specifically anodal tDCS with OGWT showed better clinical improvement in step, time, velocity and QoL in stroke survivors.

Download Full-text

Comparison of the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and mindfulness-based stress reduction on mental fatigue, quality of life and aggression in mild traumatic brain injury patients: a randomized clinical trial

Annals of General Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12991-021-00355-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sheida Shirvani ◽

Mohammadreza Davoudi ◽

Masoud Shirvani ◽

Peiman Koleini ◽

Safora Hojat Panah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Direct Current ◽

Stress Reduction ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Mental Fatigue ◽

Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The World ◽

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Abstract Background The rate of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) due to the accidents is high around the world. Patients with mild TBIs may suffer from some psychological disorders, including aggression, and mental fatigue, and thus their quality of life decreased. Among different treatments for TBI, two treatments, namely transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) have shown to be effective. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of these two treatments on mental fatigue, aggression and quality of life in mTBI patients. Materials and methods This randomized controlled trial study was conducted on 48 TBI patients referred to emergency and neurosurgery departments of Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan, Iran. They were selected using the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using the mental fatigue scale, the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (short version), and the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaires. Then, the data were analyzed using a Mixed Repeated Measures ANOVAs, and the Levene and Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests by SPSS-23 software. Results The mean age of patients in the three groups of MBSR, tDCS and control were 69.38 + 6.11 (25% male), 25.40 + 12.11 (25% male) and 69.37 + 0.2 (18.8% male), respectively. There was no significant difference between the three groups in terms of mental fatigue, quality of life and aggression (P < 0.05). In addition, the results showed that there was a significant difference between the main effect of time and the interaction between time and group (P < 0.001). Conclusions Both MBSR and tDCS methods are effective in reducing the mental fatigue and aggression and increasing quality of life of mTBI patients; MBSR treatment, as indicated in the present study, can be more effective than tDCS in patients with mTBI. Trial registration : Thailand Registry of Clinical Trials, TCTR20180827003 Registered on August 24, 2018.

Download Full-text

To Combine or Not to Combine Physical Therapy With tDCS for Stroke With Shoulder Pain? Analysis From a Combination Randomized Clinical Trial for Rehabilitation of Painful Shoulder in Stroke

Frontiers in Pain Research ◽

10.3389/fpain.2021.696547 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Janaina Andressa de Souza ◽

João Carlos Ferrari Corrêa ◽

Anna Marduy ◽

Letizzia Dall'Agnol ◽

Maria Helena Gomes de Sousa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Therapy ◽

Range Of Motion ◽

Shoulder Pain ◽

Motor Function ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Significant Difference

Purpose: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is an intervention that seems to be an ideal tool to enhance the effects of rehabilitation therapies given it facilitates generation of plasticity in the stimulated brain area. In stroke this strategy has been highly utilized; however, the results have been mixed. In this trial we have evaluated the analgesic and functional effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) combined with physiotherapy in stroke survivors with shoulder pain.Methods: Twenty-six stroke surviving adults with shoulder pain received 10 sessions of passive mobilization and performed upper limb exercises using a cycle ergometer, combined with active or sham tDCS. The intensity of pain in the hemiplegic shoulder was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS); secondary outcomes were the level of motor impairment, handgrip strength, range of motion, motor function of the upper limbs, and quality of life (QOL) assessed before and after 10 sessions and 1 month after the end of the treatment.Results: A clinically important pain reduction (3 points) was found in both groups and was maintained at follow-up; there was no significant difference between groups (p = 0.3). Similarly, the shoulder range of motion improved, motor function and quality of life improved showed no significant differences between groups. One result that needs to be underscored is that both groups had a significant effect size toward improvement in all of these outcomes.Conclusions: We discuss in this study that tDCS is not a useful combination strategy when the physical therapy has a large effect by itself and we also review other negative trials of combined therapy under this framework of ceiling effect of the main physical therapy.Trial registry: Trial registration: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials, RBR-8F5MNY (http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-8f5mny/). Registered on June 2, 2017.Beginning of the recruitment of the volunteers: august, 2017.

Download Full-text

Comparison of the Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Mental Fatigue, Quality of Life and Aggression in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial

10.21203/rs.3.rs-73580/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sheida Shirvani ◽

mohammadreza davoudi ◽

Masoud Shirvani ◽

Peiman Koleini ◽

Safora Hojat Panah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Direct Current ◽

Stress Reduction ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Mental Fatigue ◽

Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The World ◽

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Abstract Background: The rate of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) due to the accidents is high around the world. Patients with mild TBIs may suffer from some psychological disorders, including aggression, and mental fatigue, and thus their quality of life decreased. Among different treatments for TBI, two treatments, namely transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) have shown to be effective. So, this study aimed to compare the effects of these two treatments on mental fatigue, aggression and quality of life in mTBI patients.Materials and methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 2000 TBI patients referred to emergency and neurosurgery departments of Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan, Iran, in 2017. They were selected using the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using the mental fatigue scale, the World Health Organization Quality of Life- BREF (short version), and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaires. Then, the data were analyzed using a Mixed Repeated Measures ANOVAs, and the Levene and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests by SPSS-23 software.Results: Data were collected from 48 patients with mTBI. The mean age of patients in the three groups of MBSR, tDCS and control were 69.38 + 6.11 (25% male), 25.40 + 12.11 (25% male) and 69.37 + 0.2 (18.8% male), respectively. There was no significant difference between the three groups in terms of mental fatigue, quality of life and aggression (P <0.05). Also, the results showed that there was a significant difference between the main effect of time and the interaction between time and group (P <0.001).Conclusions: Both MBSR and tDCS methods are effective in reducing the mental fatigue and aggression and increasing quality of life of mTBI patients; MBSR treatment, as indicated in the present study, can be more effective than tDCS in patients with mTBI.Trial registration: Thailand Registry of Clinical Trials, TCTR20180827003 Registered on August 24, 2018.

Download Full-text

Psychiatric profile and quality of life of subjects with excess weight treated with transcranial direct current stimulation combined with a hypocaloric diet

Nutritional Neuroscience ◽

10.1080/1028415x.2019.1693319 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gabriella Richter Natividade ◽

Carina de Araujo ◽

Raquel Crespo Fitz ◽

Elisa Brietzke ◽

Pedro Schestatsky ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Excess Weight ◽

Hypocaloric Diet ◽

Direct Current Stimulation

Download Full-text

Transcranial direct current stimulation in fibromyalgia: effects on pain and quality of life evaluated clinically and by brain perfusion scintigraphy

Revista Dor ◽

10.5935/1806-0013.20150008 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Levi Higino Jales Junior ◽

Maria do Desterro Leiros Costa ◽

Levi Higino Jales Neto ◽

João Paulo Moraes Ribeiro ◽

Waleska Jessiane S. do Nascimento Freitas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Brain Perfusion ◽

Perfusion Scintigraphy ◽

Direct Current Stimulation

Download Full-text

Transcranial direct current stimulation in management of pain, mood, functionality, and quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis: a study protocol for a double-blind controlled randomized trial

Trials ◽

10.1186/s13063-019-3769-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Artur Quintiliano ◽

Tayanne Oehmen ◽

Gianna Mastroianni Kirsztajn ◽

Rodrigo Pegado

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Pharmacological Treatment ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Double Blind ◽

Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Continuous Current

Abstract Background Persistent pain can lead to incapacitation requiring long-term pharmacological treatment. Up to 82% of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) have chronic pain and most do not respond to usual medication. Advances in non-pharmacological treatments are necessary to promote pain relief without side effects and to restore functionality. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) promises to be a novel, cost-efficient, non-pharmacological treatment for CKD patients with chronic pain. In this study, we hypothesize that tDCS could improve pain, depression, functionality, and quality of life in patients with CKD undergoing HD. Methods/design We describe a single-center, parallel-design, double blind randomized, sham-controlled trial. Forty-five subjects with CKD undergoing HD will be randomized to a motor cortex (M1), a dorso lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), or a sham group. A total of ten sessions will be administered to participants over 4 weeks using a monophasic continuous current with an intensity of 2 mA for 20 min. Participants will be evaluated at baseline, immediately after the tenth session, and at 1 week and 4 weeks of follow-up after the intervention. Pain, depression, functionality, and quality of life will be evaluated. Discussion The results from this study will provide initial clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of tDCS in patients with CKD undergoing HD. Trial registration Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry/Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos (ensaiosclinicos.gov.br), 1111–1216-0137. Registered on 20 June 2018.

Download Full-text