Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Medical Sciences, cilt.42, sa.2, ss.101-110, 2022 (Scopus)
© 2022 by Türkiye Klinikleri.Objective: The aim of this prospective, randomized, controlled study was to evaluate the effectiveness of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) applications on the upper extremity motor functions of patients with stroke. Material and Methods: Twenty patients with chronic stroke who received botulinum toksin A (BoNT-A) treatment for upper limb spasticity were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio into two groups as anodal TDCS (n=10), or control (n=10). Both groups participated in an occupational therapy (OT) program for 10 days. Simultaneous anodal TDCS treatment with OT was applied to the TDCS group. The plegic upper extremity motor functions were evaluated by Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT), Box and Block Test (BBT) and Modified Frenchay Scale (MFS). Results: Demographic characteristics and baseline clinical assessments were found to be similar in both groups (p>0.05 for all parameters). After the treatment, statistically significant improvements were obtained in all sub-parameters of JTHFT, and MFS (p<0.01 for all parameters) and BBT (p<0.01) in the TDCS group. Whereas in the control group significance was present in BBT (p=0.011), 3 parameters of JTEFT, and 7 of MFS (p<0.05 for these parameters). The magnitude of improvement in BBT (p<0.001), and in all parameters of MFS of the TDCS group (p<0.05, all of the parameters) were significantly higher than those of the control group after treatment. Besides decrease in the time spent for feeding (p=0.011), lifting large light objects (p=0.003) and large heavy objects (p=0.049) of the TDCS group was significantly better than those of the control group. Conclusion: In this study, TDCS combined with OT programs following the BoNT-A injection was shown to provide additional benefits on motor functions of the plegic upper extremity of chronic stroke patients.