Abstract
Background
Transcranial
direct-current stimulation (tDCS) is an easy-to-apply, cheap, and safe
technique capable of affecting cortical brain activity. However, its
effectiveness has not been proven for many clinical applications.
Objective
The
aim of this systematic review was to determine whether the effect of
different strategies for gait training in patients with neurological
disorders can be enhanced by the combined application of tDCS compared
to sham stimulation. Additionally, we attempted to record and analyze
tDCS parameters to optimize its efficacy.
Methods
A
search in Pubmed, PEDro, and Cochrane databases was performed to find
randomized clinical trials that combined tDCS with gait training. A
chronological filter from 2010 to 2018 was applied and only studies with
variables that quantified the gait function were included.
Results
A
total of 274 studies were found, of which 25 met the inclusion
criteria. Of them, 17 were rejected based on exclusion criteria.
Finally, 8 trials were evaluated that included 91 subjects with stroke,
57 suffering from Parkinson’s disease, and 39 with spinal cord injury.
Four of the eight assessed studies did not report improved outcomes for
any of its variables compared to the placebo treatment.
Conclusions
There
are no conclusive results that confirm that tDCS can enhance the effect
of the different strategies for gait training. Further research for
specific pathologies, with larger sample sizes and adequate follow-up
periods, are required to optimize the existing protocols for applying
tDCS.
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