[O-NV-05-1] Effects of combination transcranial direct current stimulation（tDCS）with body-weight supported treadmill training（BWSTT）in restorative stage stroke patients.
A Double-Blind Cross-Over Study
Keywords:transcranial direct current stimulation, body-weight supported treadmill training, stroke
【Purpose】Many studies of tDCS have indicated the effect on the recovery of upper limb function, unilateral spatial neglect and aphasia in the stroke rehabilitation. Although walking ability is important in stroke patients to maintain daily life, there was a little study as to treat walking ability on stroke patients.It previously reported that the SMA potentially plays an important role in balance recovery after stroke. We aimed to investigate the effect of combined therapy BWSTT and tDCS on gait function recovery of stroke patients.
【Methods】Eighteen stroke patients（mean age：61.8±11.8 y/o, days from onset：133.9±59.0 days, mean FIM score：106.1±10.4）participated in this study. The two BWSTT periods of 1 weeks each, with real tDCS（anode：front of Cz, cathode：inion, 1mA, 20minutes）on supplementary motor area（SMA）and sham stimulation were randomized in a double-blind cross-over design. We measured time required of 10m walk test（10MWT）and timed up and go test（TUG）at the before and after each periods. Saitama Misato rehabilitation hospital ethics committee approved this study. All participants gave their written informed consent.
【Results】We found the real tDCS with BWSTT improved gait speed（10MWT）and applicative walking ability（TUG）significantly（p＜0.05）compared with BWSTT+sham stimulation period.
【Discussion】Our findings demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of tDCS in the gait training after stroke. It is possible that the facilitative effects of tDCS on SMA resulted in improvement of postural control during BWSTT. The results indicated implications for the use of tDCS in balance and gait training rehabilitation after stroke.
【Methods】Eighteen stroke patients（mean age：61.8±11.8 y/o, days from onset：133.9±59.0 days, mean FIM score：106.1±10.4）participated in this study. The two BWSTT periods of 1 weeks each, with real tDCS（anode：front of Cz, cathode：inion, 1mA, 20minutes）on supplementary motor area（SMA）and sham stimulation were randomized in a double-blind cross-over design. We measured time required of 10m walk test（10MWT）and timed up and go test（TUG）at the before and after each periods. Saitama Misato rehabilitation hospital ethics committee approved this study. All participants gave their written informed consent.
【Results】We found the real tDCS with BWSTT improved gait speed（10MWT）and applicative walking ability（TUG）significantly（p＜0.05）compared with BWSTT+sham stimulation period.
【Discussion】Our findings demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of tDCS in the gait training after stroke. It is possible that the facilitative effects of tDCS on SMA resulted in improvement of postural control during BWSTT. The results indicated implications for the use of tDCS in balance and gait training rehabilitation after stroke.