Motor stroke recovery after tDCS: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, impacting motor function.
• Motor recovery after stroke is a significant clinical challenge.
• Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques are being explored to enhance neurorehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on motor recovery in adult stroke patients.
• To identify optimal tDCS parameters for enhanced motor recovery based on existing literature.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of full-text articles published before February 18, 2019, in the PubMed database.
• Inclusion of studies on tDCS for motor recovery in adult stroke patients.
• Exclusion of studies on other neurological/psychiatric conditions or those not meeting methodological criteria.

Main Results:

• Significant heterogeneity exists in study outcomes regarding tDCS-induced motor recovery enhancement.
• Variability in clinical data, tDCS approaches, combined therapies, and outcome measures contributes to inconsistent findings.
• tDCS demonstrates potential for promoting adaptive plasticity and positive rehabilitation effects.

Conclusions:

• Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be effective for promoting motor recovery and adaptive plasticity in stroke survivors.
• Further high-quality research with larger sample sizes and standardized stimulation protocols is essential.
• Identifying optimal tDCS protocols is crucial for maximizing its therapeutic benefits in stroke rehabilitation.