Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a method of altering cortical excitability using low-intensity direct current and is used to improve motor and neuropsychological disturbances following stroke. For treatment of the hemiplegic arm, tDCS delivers a constant direct current of 1–2 mA for 10–20 min. The current is delivered through a pair of sponge electrodes (5 cm×7 cm) placed on the scalp overlying the motor cortex and the contralateral supraorbital region. The stimulation parameters that can be varied are the polarity of the electrodes, the intensity of the current, and the duration of the stimulation. Although tDCS has lower spatial and temporal resolution than transcranial magnetic stimulation, it is safer than transcranial magnetic stimulation. Combination therapies that use tDCS with other rehabilitation methods have been developed. In this article, we present and discuss therapies that combine tDCS with robotic arm training and peripheral electrical stimulation.
