Table 1B.
Overview of the studies on tDCS combined with robotic upper limb rehabilitation after stroke.
| Study | Protocol therapy | Patients' number | Diagnosis | Age (Mean ± SD) | Time post-stroke | Description of the intervention | Kinematic indicators | Neurophysiological indicators | Clinical scales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ang et al., 2015 | - Bilateral Real/Sham tDCS + MI-BCI with robotic feedback (InMotion2) | 2 Groups: 10 patients for real group, 9 patients for sham group | Chronic stroke: 13 ischemic 9 hemorrhagic; 18 subcortical 1 cortical | Group A (real): 52.1 ± 11.7 Group B (sham): 56.3 ± 9.5 |
9 months | Group A: 10 sessions of 20 min of bilateral tDCS (1 mA) before 1 h of MI-BCI with upper limb robotic feedback for 2 weeks. Group B: 10 sessions of 20 min of sham tDCS (1 mA) before 1 h of MI-BCI with upper limb robotic feedback for 2 weeks. |
– | MI-BCI screening | FMS |
| Triccas et al., 2015 | - Anodal Real/Sham tDCS+Armeo Spring RT | 2 Groups: 12 patients for real group, 11 patients for sham group | 12 Subacute: 10 ischemic and 2 haemorrhagic stroke; 11 Chronic: 8 ischemic and 3 haemorrhagic stroke | Group A (real): 64.3 ± 10 years Group B (sham): 62.5 ± 14.3 years |
Subacute stroke: (mean) 8–10 weeks Chronic stroke: (mean) 3.1 years | Group A: anodal tDCS (1.0 mA) during first 20 min of 1 h RT; Group B: sham tDCS during first 20 min of 1 h RT; 18 sessions for 8 weeks (2–3 sessions per week) |
Hand Path Ratio (HPR) | – | FMS, ARAT, MAL, SIS |
| Powell et al., 2016 | - Anodal tDCS delivered before PNS or after PNS combined with robotic therapy (InMotion2) | 2 Groups: 4 patients for tDCS before PNS, 6 patients for tDCS after PNS group | Chronic stroke: 7 ischemic 3 hemorrhagic; 6 left side lesion 4 right side lesion | Group A (before PNS): 61.0 ± 6.63 Group B (after PNS): 60.5 ± 2.95 |
4.5 years | Group A: 10 daily sessions of 20 min of anodal tDCS (2 mA) BEFORE 2 h of PNS followed by 2 h of RT Group B: 10 daily sessions of 20 min of anodal tDCS (2 mA) AFTER 2 h of PNS followed by 2 h of RT |
– | Motor map volume of ipsilesional hemisphere, COG | FMS, SIS |
| Straudi et al., 2016 | Anodal and cathodal Real/Sham tDCS+ReoGo Therapy System RT | 2 Groups: 12 patients for real group, 11 patients for sham group | 9 Subacute: 6 cortical and 3 subcortical (9 ischemic and 2 hemorrhagic), 14 Chronic: 8 cortical and 6 subcortical (10 ischemic and 2 hemorrhagic) | Group A (real): 52.7 ± 16 years Group B (sham): 64.3 ± 9.7 years |
Subacute stroke: <6 months Chronic stroke: >6 months | Group A: 30 min of RT with anodal and cathodal real tDCS (1.0 mA); Group B: 30 min of RT with anodal and cathodal sham tDCS during first 30 s; 10 sessions for 2 weeks (5 sessions per week) |
– | – | FMS, SIS |
tDCS, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; RT, Robotic Training; FMS, Fugl-Meyer Score; ARAT, Action Research Arm Test; SIS, Stroke Impact Scale; B&B, Box and Block Test; MAL, Motor Activity Log; MAS, Modified Ashworth Scale; MI, Motricity Index; MI-BCI, Motor Imagery—Brain Computer Interface; COG, Center of Gravity of the lesion; SD, Standard Deviation.