Pilates and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Stability, Balance, and Depression in Patients with Stroke

This study aimed to investigate the effects of combining Pilates and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on core stability, balance, and depression in stroke patients. Forty subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). The experimental group received 20 min of tDCS followed by 30 min of Pilates exercises, while the control group underwent sham tDCS with the same Pilates regimen. Both groups followed the intervention schedule twice a week for 4 weeks. Core stability, static balance, and dynamic balance were assessed using the pressure biofeedback stabilizer (PBS), functional reach test (FRT), and timed up and go (TUG) test. Depression levels were evaluated using the short form geriatric depression scale-Korean version (SGDS-K). Both groups showed significant improvements in core stability, balance, and depression (p < 0.001) after the intervention, but the experimental group demonstrated significantly greater gains compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The results suggest that the combined treatment of Pilates and tDCS offers superior benefits over Pilates alone in improving physical and emotional outcomes in stroke patients. Incorporating tDCS into rehabilitation programs could enhance recovery and quality of life for stroke survivors.