Effects of Different Montages of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Haemodynamic Responses and Motor Performance in Acute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Wanalee Klomjai, Benchaporn Aneksan, Songkram Chotik-Anuchit and 6 others
PMID 36036644WHAT IT FOUND
Five daily sessions of dual-montage tDCS before physical therapy improved lower-limb strength and walking speed more than other tDCS types or sham.
Upper-limb function did not differ between groups. Brain blood flow measurements showed no significant changes in any group.
Key findings
01Dual-montage tDCS resulted in greater improvement in lower-limb motor function and strength compared to other tDCS montages and sham.
02There were no significant differences between groups in upper-limb motor function or upper-limb muscle strength.
03Transcranial direct current stimulation did not produce significant changes in cerebral blood flow velocity in either the lesioned or non-lesioned hemisphere.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Multiple statistical comparisons were made across many outcomes, increasing the risk that some positive findings occurred by chance. The follow-up period was only one month, so long-term effects are unknown. Participants had mild-to-moderate deficits; results may not apply to patients with severe stroke. Eleven participants had missing haemodynamic data due to poor ultrasound windows. Post-discharge rehabilitation was not controlled, although the authors state no significant differences in post-discharge care were found between groups.
Declared interests
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that tDCS improves upper-limb function or alters cerebral blood flow. The study found no significant differences between groups for upper-limb outcomes and no significant changes in blood flow velocity for any montage.