Robot–aided rehabilitation combined with transcranial direct current stimulation

Abstract

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a method of altering cortical excitability using low intensity direct current for improving motor and neuopsychological disturbances in neuromuscular diseases including stroke. For treatment of hemiplegic arm, tDCS delivers constant direct current (1–2mA) during 10–20min thorough a pair of sponge electrodes which placed on the scalp overlying a target motor cortex region of the brain and the contralateral supraorbital region. The stimulation parameter is determined by the polarity of the electrodes, current intensity and duration. Although tDCS is less in resolution of both time and space than the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), tDCS is safer than TMS. Combination therapy using tDCS with other rehabilitation methods have developed. The combination therapies using tDCS with robotic arm training are effective for improving the motor functions of the hemiplegic arms of chronic stroke.