Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Different Electrode Sites on the Activity of the Upper Extremity in Chronic Stroke Patients: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial

Abstract

This study examined the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on different electrode sites on the activity of the upper extremity in chronic stroke patients. Forty-five subjects were randomly assigned to unilateral tDCS, dual tDCS, and control groups, and tDCS was applied to the unilateral tDCS and dual tDCS groups for 20 minutes per day, 5 times a week for a total of 4 weeks. The activity of the subject’s upper extremity was evaluated by a hand grip strength test, an elbow flexor and wrist flexor muscle tone test, and a Jebsen Taylor hand function test. In the unilateral tDCS group, dual tDCS group, and control group, significant improvement was observed in the hand grip strength test and the Jebsen Taylor hand function test after intervention (p.05), and there was significant improvement in the hand grip strength test and the Jebsen Taylor hand function test compared to the control group (p.05). The results of this study suggest that tDCS applied to the primary motor cortex (M1) positively affects the activity of the upper extremity in stroke patients.