The purpose of this study will to compare the long-term effect of anodal versus cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on motor recovery in subacute stroke patients. Forty patients with subacute ischemic stroke will randomly assigned to one of three groups: Anodal, Cathodal and Sham. Each group will receive tDCS at an intensity of 2mA for 25 minutes daily for 6 consecutive days over the affected (Anodal, Sham) or unaffected (Cathodal) motor cortex. Patients will be assessed with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the Barthel index (BI) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) muscle strength scale at baseline, after end of the 6th tDCS session, and then 1, 2 and 3 months later. Motor cortical excitability will be measured at baseline and after the 6th session in both hemispheres.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
The anodal group will receive tDCS for 25 minutes at 2mA daily for 6 consecutive days on the affected hemisphere.
The Cathodal group will receive tDCS for 25 minutes at 2mA daily for 6 consecutive days on the unaffected hemisphere.
The sham group will receive sham tDCS for 25 minutes daily for 6 consecutive days on the affected hemisphere.
Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University
Asyut, Asyut Governorate, Egypt
Motor power improvement
improvement in the motor power of paretic patient as measured in one proximal and one distal muscle group testing in upper (shoulder abduction + hand grip) and lower limbs ( hip flexion + toes dorsiflexion).
Time frame: 3 Months
Motor cortical excitability
The difference in the motor cortical excitability (RMT, AMT) before and after tDCS
Time frame: 1 Month
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