Abstract
Background: After a Stroke, there is an autonomic nervous system (ANS) changes. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) can promote the reorganization of the affected circuits.Objective: To evaluate the effects of tDCS applied before a session of physical activity on the treadmill, in the modulation of the autonomic nervous system of post-stroke patients.Methodology: Cross-over study, were randomized 12 adult hemiparetic subjects in 2 groups, Group 1 (active tDCS before exercise on the treadmill) and Group 2 (sham tDCS before exercise on the treadmill). Stimulation times were 20 min; treadmill time was 20 min. The heart rate variability (HRV) and Variability of Systolic Blood Pressure (VSBP) were evaluated for 15 min, in 3 periods (pre and post tDCS and during exercise recovery on the treadmill).Results: There was no difference in the VSBP and the HRV between the groups, compared with the baseline data; however, in the intragroup analysis, the parasympathetic modulation after active tDCS increased by 18% over baseline by the RMSSD with IC 95% (−7.85 to −0.34). In group 1, the post-tDCS active and post-exercise periods presented a value of variance above baseline, indicating a better prognosis. In group 2, there was a significant reduction of 38% of Variance values (p = 0.003) after tDCS sham.Conclusion: tDCS does not generate immediate effects on HRV and VSBP, except for intragroup comparison, which has greater participation in parasympathetic modulation in the group receiving active tDCS.
Highlights
One of the most serious causes of stroke reoccurrence is the alteration in the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) function that leads to a reduction of heart rate variability (HRV)
Use of pacemaker; contraindications to the use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS); women who had an irregular menstrual cycle or who were in the menstrual cycle during the evaluation; without medical clearance for treadmill exercise testing
We evaluated the effects of a single exercise session, associated or not with prior tDCS stimulation, on BPPV and HRV in stroke survivors
Summary
To evaluate the effects of tDCS applied before a session of physical activity on the treadmill, in the modulation of the autonomic nervous system of post-stroke patients. Methodology: Cross-over study, were randomized 12 adult hemiparetic subjects in 2 groups, Group 1 (active tDCS before exercise on the treadmill) and Group 2 (sham tDCS before exercise on the treadmill). Stimulation times were 20 min; treadmill time was 20 min. The heart rate variability (HRV) and Variability of Systolic Blood Pressure (VSBP) were evaluated for 15 min, in 3 periods (pre and post tDCS and during exercise recovery on the treadmill)
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