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Updated: Jul 3, 2025
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In Vivo Intracellular Recording of Type-Identified Rat Spinal Motoneurons During Trans-Spinal Direct Current Stimulation
Published on: May 11, 2020
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Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Lower Extremity Muscle Strength, Quality of Life, and Functional
Megha Nijhawan1, Chitra Kataria1
1Physiotherapy, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC) Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi, IND.
Cureus
|February 12, 2024
Summary
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) did not significantly improve muscle strength, function, or quality of life in incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) patients over a two-week period. Further research is needed to explore tDCS as a long-term rehabilitation strategy for iSCI.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Physical Therapy
Background:
- Muscle strength and function are critical for rehabilitation in incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI).
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique with potential therapeutic applications.
- The efficacy of tDCS for iSCI rehabilitation remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of anodal tDCS on lower limb muscle strength, quality of life (QoL), and functional outcomes in individuals with iSCI.
- To evaluate the potential of tDCS as an adjunct therapy in iSCI rehabilitation.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, single-blinded, sham-controlled parallel-group study.
- 32 iSCI participants received either anodal or sham tDCS over the motor cortex for 40 minutes daily, five sessions per week, for two weeks.
- Outcome measures included Lower Extremity Motor Score (LEMS), Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM III), and WHO Quality of Life Bref (WHO QoL Bref).
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed between the anodal tDCS and sham groups for LEMS, SCIM III, or any domain of the WHO QoL Bref at one and two weeks.
- Specific p-values for LEMS were 0.675 (1 week) and 0.978 (2 weeks); for SCIM III, p=0.170 (1 week) and p=0.133 (2 weeks).
- No significant improvements in overall QoL or health perception were noted in the anodal tDCS group compared to sham.
Conclusions:
- Anodal tDCS, under the study conditions, appears ineffective for improving motor and functional capabilities or quality of life in individuals with iSCI.
- Further long-term studies are warranted to ascertain the potential role of tDCS in iSCI rehabilitation strategies.
