Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
08:53
Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke
Published on: June 6, 2025
Transcranial direct current stimulation with motor-learning based gait therapy post-stroke: A randomized controlled
Svetlana Pundik1, Margaret Skelly2, Ahlam Salameh3
1VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System (VANEOHS), Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
Brain Stimulation
|May 30, 2026
Summary
This study found that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) paired with gait therapy improved motor function after stroke. Both active and sham tDCS showed similar benefits, suggesting gait training is key for recovery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Persistent gait deficits are common after stroke, limiting functional recovery.
- Motor learning enhances neuroplasticity but has limitations in chronic stroke.
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can augment neuroplasticity during rehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of bihemispheric tDCS targeting leg motor regions when paired with gait therapy.
- To compare active tDCS with sham tDCS in individuals with chronic stroke.
Main Methods:
- 44 individuals with stroke were randomized to 10 sessions of active or sham tDCS with motor training.
- Outcomes assessed at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-week follow-up.
- Electric field (e-field) and lesion load were quantified using MRI; statistical analyses included mixed-effects models.
Main Results:
- 39 participants completed the study; no significant differences between active and sham tDCS groups.
- The entire cohort showed significant improvements in gait speed, balance, and functional mobility.
- Improvements were maintained or enhanced at the 6-week follow-up; lesion load did not correlate with outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Gait training, with or without tDCS, led to significant improvements in clinical outcomes.
- Lesion load did not influence treatment response.
- Future research should focus on optimizing tDCS dosing for consistent effects alongside effective gait training.
