Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2025
Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke
Published on: June 6, 2025
Five-Session Dual-Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation With Task-Specific Training Does Not Improve Gait and Lower
Benchaporn Aneksan1, Montawan Sawatdipan1, Sunee Bovonsunthonchai2
1Neuro Electrical Stimulation laboratory (NeuE), Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand; Faculty of Physical Therapy Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
Objective:
To determine the effect of five-session dual-transcranial direct current stimulation (dual-tDCS) combined with task-specific training on gait and lower limb motor performance in individuals with subacute stroke.
Materials And Methods:
Twenty-five participants who had a stroke in the subacute phase with mild motor impairment were recruited, randomized, and allocated into two groups. The active group (n = 13) received dual-tDCS with anodal over the lesioned hemisphere M1 and cathodal over the nonlesioned hemisphere, at 2 mA for 20 min before training for five consecutive days, while the sham group (n = 12) received sham mode before training. Gait speed as a primary outcome, temporospatial gait variables, lower-limb functional tasks (sit-to-stand and walking mobility), and muscle strength as secondary outcomes were collected at preintervention and postintervention (day 5), one-week follow-up, and one-month follow-up.
Results:
The primary outcome and most of the secondary outcomes were improved in both groups, with no significant difference between the two groups, and most of the results indicated small to moderate effect sizes of active tDCS compared to sham tDCS.
Conclusion:
The combined intervention showed no benefit over training alone in improving gait variables and lower-limb performance. However, some performances were saturated at some point, as moderate to high function participants were recruited in the present study. Future studies should consider recruiting participants with more varied motor impairment levels and may need to determine the optimal stimulation protocols and parameters to improve gait and lower-limb performance.
