Abstract:

Objective To study the effect of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS) combined with mirror therapy (MT) on upper limb function for stroke patients.

Methods From July, 2018 to June, 2019, 54 stroke patients from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, were randomly divided into groups A, B and C, with 18 cases in each group. All the patients received routine medication and rehabilitation training, while group A accepted 60 minutes of MT, group B accepted 20 minuts of atDCS first and then 40 minuts of MT, and group C accepted 40 minutes of MT first and then 20 minuts of atDCS in addittion; for four weeks. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Motor Assessment Scale (MAS) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after treatment.

Results The main effect of time was significant in scores of FMA-UE (F = 159.811, P < 0.001), ARAT (F = 353.227, P < 0.001), MAS (F = 513.494, P < 0.001) and MBI (F = 85.982, P < 0.001), and all of them improved after treatment. The main effect of groups was significant in scores of FMA-UE (F = 12.502, P < 0.001), ARAT (F = 20.095, P < 0.001), MAS (F = 16.371, P < 0.001) and MBI (F = 11.882, P < 0.001). The interacted-effect between time and groups was significant in scores of FMA-UE (F = 37.659, P < 0.001), ARAT (F = 78.681, P < 0.001), MAS (F = 97.997, P < 0.001) and MBI (F = 48.015, P < 0.001); while all the scores were the best in group B (P < 0.01), and there was no significant difference between groups A and C (P > 0.05).

Conclusion The combination of atDCS first and then MT can promote the recovery of motor function of the affected limbs for stroke patients.

Key words: stroke, transcranial direct current stimulation, mirror therapy, upper limb, motor function