Raeisi S, Mousavi Sadati S K, Azimian M. The Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Core Stability Training on the Balance and Disability of Patients With Multiple Sclerosis. PTJ 2021; 11 (3) :189-198
URL:
http://ptj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-468-en.html
1- Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, East Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2- Rofeideh Hospital, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (2203 Views)
Purpose: Physicians report balance disorders and fatigue as the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease. The present study compares the effect of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and core stability training on the balance and disability of patients with MS.
Methods: This is a pre-test, post-test experiment study. The statistical population included all patients with MS who reffered to Rofaydeh Rehabilitation Hospital in Tehran City, Iran, in the winter of 2019. A total of 30 male and female patients aged 27-70 years were selected through available and purposive sampling methods and then randomly divided into experimental and control groups (each group 15 persons). The initial measurements of the participants’ kinetic variables of postural control were carried out by the posturography device, and afterward, Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was employed to measure disability. The participants’ training included core stability training for 8 weeks (30-40 min, 3 sessions per week) with 20 min online cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation, 2 sessions per week (The first and third sessions). Then, the research variables were measured again.
Results: The results demonstrated the significant influence of cerebellar tDCS on the variables of postural control equilibrium in the second sensory condition (P<0.001), third sensory condition (P<0.001), fourth sensory condition (P<0.001), fifth sensory condition (P=0.034), and combine equilibrium (P<0.001). Besides, the cerebellar current stimulation enhanced the sensory performance of the experimental group in using the vestibular system input data (P<0.001) and vision (P<0.001), but it had no significant effect on the ability to use somatosensory input (P=0.203) and vision preference (P=0.343). This research also revealed that the cerebellar current stimulation decreased EDSS in MS patients (P=0.026).
Conclusion: The cerebellar tDCS has a beneficial effect on balance, EDSS, and modified fatigue impact scale in MS patients. The study findings also indicate that the cerebellum, vestibular system, and visual system are related, and they have an impact on balance, and cerebellar stimulation can facilitate learning motor skills.
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● tDCS improves the balance of MS patients.
● tDCS has a positive effect on the disability of MS patients.
● tDCS can facilitate the learning of motor skills.
Plain Language Summary
MS is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that is commonly seen in young adults between the ages of 20 and 40. Physicians reported the balance disorders as one of the earliest symptoms of this disease. Decreased muscle endurance, balance, and increased physical disability are major causes of falls in MS patients. The cerebellum is one of the most common areas of the brain that plays a major role in balance and execution of movements, which is damaged by this disease. In recent years, many interventions have been made to stimulate or inhibit the activity and function of the cerebellum in the human. tDCS a simple, non-invasive, endurable, and safe method without adverse effects, is one of the interventions that researchers have considered. Some research has shown that tDCS can affect the functions of different areas of the brain. Since tDCS is considered as a cheap and cost-effective intervention, in this study, this method was used as a complementary treatment to improve cerebellar function along with core stability exercises. The results of our study showed that electrical stimulation of the cerebellum with direct current has beneficial effects on the balance and disability of MS patients and also electrical stimulation of the cerebellum can facilitate the learning of motor skills. Therefore, this method can be used as a complementary treatment in MS.
Type of Study:
Research |
Subject:
Special Received: 2020/08/14 | Accepted: 2021/02/13 | Published: 2021/07/1