The effects of exercise training using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on breathing in patients with chronic stroke patients.
Dong-Jin Lee, Yeon-Seop Lee, Hyun-Jin Kim and 1 others
PMID 28356647WHAT IT FOUND
Adding transcranial direct current stimulation to breathing exercises improved lung capacity more than sham stimulation in chronic stroke patients.
Both groups showed gains, but the tDCS group achieved significantly higher forced vital capacity and expiratory volume, suggesting the electrical stimulation enhances the effect of standard respiratory training.
Key findings
01The tDCS group showed significantly higher forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) compared to the sham group after treatment.
02Both the tDCS and sham groups improved in FVC and FEV1 from baseline, indicating that the breathing exercises themselves provided benefit.
03Participants were randomized to receive either active tDCS or sham stimulation while undergoing breathing exercises.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study had a small sample size of only thirty participants. The duration of the follow-up and the long-term sustainability of the effects were not reported. The paper notes that tDCS effects may be limited to one hour, but the specific timing of measurements relative to the stimulation session is not detailed in the summary text. The study was conducted in a hospital setting, so results may not generalize to outpatient or home-based rehabilitation.
The easy way to misread this
Do not attribute the entire improvement to tDCS. Both groups improved, meaning the breathing exercises themselves were beneficial. The tDCS provided an additional advantage, but it is not the sole cause of the recovery.