https://jneuroengrehab.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12984-018-0427-2
- Ann Van de WinckelEmail authorView ORCID ID profile,
- James R. Carey,
- Teresa A. Bisson,
- Elsa C. Hauschildt,
- Christopher D. Streib and
- William K. Durfee
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation201815:83
Home-based transcranial direct current stimulation plus tracking training therapy in people with stroke: an open-label feasibility study
© The Author(s). 2018
- Received: 18 December 2017
- Accepted: 11 September 2018
- Published: 18 September 2018
Abstract
Background
Transcranial direct current
stimulation (tDCS) is an effective neuromodulation adjunct to repetitive
motor training in promoting motor recovery post-stroke. Finger tracking
training is motor training whereby people with stroke use the impaired
index finger to trace waveform-shaped lines on a monitor. Our aims were
to assess the feasibility and safety of a telerehabilitation program
consisting of tDCS and finger tracking training through questionnaires
on ease of use, adverse symptoms, and quantitative assessments of motor
function and cognition. We believe this telerehabilitation program will
be safe and feasible, and may reduce patient and clinic costs.
Methods
Six participants with
hemiplegia post-stroke [mean (SD) age was 61 (10) years; 3 women; mean
(SD) time post-stroke was 5.5 (6.5) years] received five 20-min tDCS
sessions and finger tracking training provided through
telecommunication. Safety measurements included the Digit Span Forward
Test for memory, a survey of symptoms, and the Box and Block test for
motor function. We assessed feasibility by adherence to treatment and by
a questionnaire on ease of equipment use. We reported descriptive
statistics on all outcome measures.
Results
Participants completed all
treatment sessions with no adverse events. Also, 83.33% of participants
found the set-up easy, and all were comfortable with the devices. There
was 100% adherence to the sessions and all recommended
telerehabilitation.
Conclusions
tDCS with finger tracking
training delivered through telerehabilitation was safe, feasible, and
has the potential to be a cost-effective home-based therapy for
post-stroke motor rehabilitation.
Trial registration
NCT02460809 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
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