scholarly journals Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Combined with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation over Premotor Cortex Improves Motor Function in Severe Stroke: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suellen M. Andrade ◽  
Larissa M. Batista ◽  
Lídia L. R. F. Nogueira ◽  
Eliane A. de Oliveira ◽  
Antonio G. C. de Carvalho ◽  
...  

Objective.We compared the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation at different cortical sites (premotor and motor primary cortex) combined with constraint-induced movement therapy for treatment of stroke patients.Design.Sixty patients were randomly distributed into 3 groups: Group A, anodal stimulation on premotor cortex and constraint-induced movement therapy; Group B, anodal stimulation on primary motor cortex and constraint-induced movement therapy; Group C, sham stimulation and constraint-induced movement therapy. Evaluations involved analysis of functional independence, motor recovery, spasticity, gross motor function, and muscle strength.Results.A significant improvement in primary outcome (functional independence) after treatment in the premotor group followed by primary motor group and sham group was observed. The same pattern of improvement was highlighted among all secondary outcome measures regarding the superior performance of the premotor group over primary motor and sham groups.Conclusions.Premotor cortex can contribute to motor function in patients with severe functional disabilities in early stages of stroke. This study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov database (NCT 02628561).

2020 ◽  
Vol 83 (8) ◽  
pp. 523-529
Author(s):  
Maricel A Garrido ◽  
Evelyn A Άlvarez ◽  
Fabrizio L Acevedo ◽  
Álvaro I Moyano ◽  
Natalia P Castillo ◽  
...  

Introduction Upper limb motor impairment after a stroke is an important sequela. Constraint-induced movement therapy is a rehabilitation approach that has strong evidence. The incorporation of transcranial direct-current stimulation has been proposed; however, there is a lack of studies that confirm its benefits. The principal aim is to compare the effectiveness of 7 days of active versus sham bi-hemispheric transcranial direct-current stimulation, combined with modified constraint-induced movement therapy, for motor and functional recovery of the hemiparetic upper limb in subacute stroke patients. Method/design Randomized, double blind, sham-controlled, parallel group clinical trial in two stroke units. Participants: adults over 18 years, at least 2 days post unihemispheric stroke event, with hemiparesis, and without severe pain, aphasia or cognitive impairment. Intervention: Patients will receive 7 days of continuous therapy and be assigned to one of the treatment groups: active bi-hemispheric transcranial direct-current stimulation or sham bi-hemispheric transcranial direct-current stimulation. Measurement: Evaluations will take place at days 0, 5, 7 and 10, and at 3rd months. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment – Upper Extremity, Wolf Motor Function Test, Functional Independence Measure and Stroke Impact Scale are considered. Discussion Modified constraint-induced movement therapy plus transcranial direct-current stimulation in subacute stroke patients with hemiparesis could maximize motor and functional recovery. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03452254.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Framorando ◽  
Tianlan Cai ◽  
Yi Wang ◽  
Alan J. Pegna

AbstractTranscranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has shown that stimulation of Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) facilitates task performance in working-memory tasks. However, little is known about its potential effects on effort. This study examined whether tDCS affects effort during a working-memory task. Participants received anodal, cathodal and sham stimulation over DLPFC across three sessions before carrying out a 2-back task. During the task, effort-related cardiovascular measures were recorded—especially the Initial Systolic Time Interval (ISTI). Results showed that anodal stimulation produced a shorter ISTI, indicating a greater effort compared to cathodal and sham conditions, where effort was lower. These findings demonstrate that anodal stimulation helps participants to maintain engagement in a highly demanding task (by increasing task mastery), without which they would otherwise disengage. This study is the first to show that tDCS impacts the extent of effort engaged by individuals during a difficult task.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Joos ◽  
Dirk De Ridder ◽  
Paul Van de Heyning ◽  
Sven Vanneste

Tinnitus is the perception of a sound in the absence of an external auditory stimulus and affects 10–15% of the Western population. Previous studies have demonstrated the therapeutic effect of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left auditory cortex on tinnitus loudness, but the effect of this presumed excitatory stimulation contradicts with the underlying pathophysiological model of tinnitus. Therefore, we included 175 patients with chronic tinnitus to study polarity specific effects of a single tDCS session over the auditory cortex (39 anodal, 136 cathodal). To assess the effect of treatment, we used the numeric rating scale for tinnitus loudness and annoyance. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant main effect for tinnitus loudness and annoyance, but for tinnitus annoyance anodal stimulation has a significantly more pronounced effect than cathodal stimulation. We hypothesize that the suppressive effect of tDCS on tinnitus loudness may be attributed to a disrupting effect of ongoing neural hyperactivity, independent of the inhibitory or excitatory effects and that the reduction of annoyance may be induced by influencing adjacent or functionally connected brain areas involved in the tinnitus related distress network. Further research is required to explain why only anodal stimulation has a suppressive effect on tinnitus annoyance.


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