| Abstract: | Background: Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) has been widely studied with the
aim of enhancing local synaptic efficacy and modulating the electrical activity of
the cortex in patients with neurological disorders. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of a single session
of tDCS regarding immediate changes in spatiotemporal gait and oscillations of the
center of pressure (30 seconds) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Method:A randomized controlled trial with a blinded evaluator was conducted involving 20
children with CP between six and ten years of age. Gait and balance were evaluated
three times: Evaluation 1 (before the stimulation), Evaluation 2 (immediately
after stimulation), and Evaluation 3 (20 minutes after the stimulation). The
protocol consisted of a 20-minute session of tDCS applied to the primary motor
cortex at an intensity of 1 mA. The participants were randomly allocated to two
groups: experimental group - anodal stimulation of the primary motor cortex; and
control group - placebo transcranial stimulation. Results: Significant reductions were found in the experimental group regarding
oscillations during standing in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions
with eyes open and eyes closed in comparison with the control group (p<0.05).
In the intra-group analysis, the experimental group exhibited significant
improvements in gait velocity, cadence, and oscillation in the center of pressure
during standing (p<0.05). No significant differences were found in the control
group among the different evaluations. Conclusion: A single session of tDCS applied to the primary motor cortex promotes positive
changes in static balance and gait velocity in children with cerebral palsy. |
