Unihemispheric Dual-site Anodal tDCS for Lower Limb Motor Function in Chronic Stroke Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Background: A cerebrovascular accident results in behavioral deficits as a result of damage to the brain’s systems. The motor system is one of the most commonly affected nervous systems. Lower limb motor function is important to a person’s functional independence. Therefore, restoring lower limb mot...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Guilan University of Medical Sciences
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Caspian Journal of Neurological Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://cjns.gums.ac.ir/article-1-753-en.pdf |
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| Summary: | Background: A cerebrovascular accident results in behavioral deficits as a result of damage to the brain’s systems. The motor system is one of the most commonly affected nervous systems. Lower limb motor function is important to a person’s functional independence. Therefore, restoring lower limb motor function can be an important goal in rehabilitating patients after stroke. Scientists have shown the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation, such as tDCS, in improving the performance of stroke patients. Recently, researchers have proposed that unihemispheric dual-site anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (UHCDS a-tDCS) targeting the primary motor cortex (M1) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) could improve the effectiveness of a-tDCS in stroke rehabilitation.
Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of simultaneous stimulation of two points on the function of the lower limbs of stroke patients.
Materials & Methods: This was a double-blind, randomized clinical trial. The study included 18 patients who had experienced their first chronic stroke. Participants were assigned to either experimental group 1 or group 2, with both undergoing 5 consecutive sessions of a-tDCS. In experimental group 1, patients received active a-tDCS targeting both the M1 and DLPFC, while in experimental group 2, patients received a-tDCS to the M1 and sham stimulation to the DLPFC. Lower limb motor function was assessed using the Fugl-Meyer and time up-and-go test. Assessments were made before and after 5 sessions.
Results: The results indicate that following 5 sessions of a-tDCSM1-DLPFC, mobility and functional strength are better than a-tDCSM1 (P=0.04 and P=0.07).
Conclusion: Dual site stimulation a-tDCSM1-DLPFC can further improve balance in patients with chronic stroke. |
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| ISSN: | 2423-4818 |