Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Upper Limb Motor Function for Patients with Stroke / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on upper limb motor function for stroke patients. Methods:From December, 2017 to December, 2019, 50 first stroke patients in rehabilitation medicine department within six months were randomly divided into control group (n = 25) and experimental group (n = 25). All the patients accepted upper limbs routine rehabilitation and upper limb robot assisted training, while the experimental group accepted transcranial direct current stimulation in addition, for two weeks. They were evaluated with Reconn upper limb rehabilitation robot evaluation system, simple Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE), Carroll Upper Extremity Function Test (UEFT) and modified Barthel Index (MBI). Results:There was no significant difference in all the scores between two groups before treatment (|t| < 2.954, P > 0.05). All the scores improved after treatment (|t| > 7.551, P < 0.001), and improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.639, P < 0.05). Conclusions:Transcranial direct current stimulation can further improve the upper limb motor function and activities of daily living for stroke patients.