Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Poststroke Motor Recovery: Challenges and Opportunities

Publication date: September 2018Source: PM&R, Volume 10, Issue 9, Supplement 2Author(s): Wuwei Feng, Steven A. Kautz, Gottfried Schlaug, Caitlyn Meinzer, Mark S. George, Pratik Y. ChhatbarAbstractThere has been a renewed research interest in transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as an adjunctive tool for poststroke motor recovery as it has a neuro-modulatory effect on the human cortex. However, there are barriers towards its successful application in motor recovery as several scientific issues remain unresolved, including device-related issues (ie, dose-response relationship, safety and tolerability concerns, interhemispheric imbalance model, and choice of montage) and clinical trial-related issues (ie, patient selection, timing of study, and choice of outcomes). This narrative review examines and discusses the existing challenges in using tDCS as a brain modulation tool in facilitating recovery after stroke. Potential solutions pertinent to using tDCS with the goal of harnessing the brains plasticity are proposed.
Source: PMandR - Category: Rehabilitation Source Type: research