Comparison Between Unihemispheric and Bihemispheric TCDS in Subacute Ischemic Stroke Patients

Despite the central origin of stroke affecting the primary motor cortex M1, majority of the rehabilitative techniques of physical therapy and occupational therapy practice depending peripheral methods for gaining motor functions. There is a great need to develop methods in order to improve the outcome of physical or medical rehabilitation and enhance long-term functional outcome. Many researches' work over the past several years have inspected the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to promote the advantageous effect of neurological rehabilitation.

The aim of This study Is to compare between the effect of unihemispheric and bihemispheric tDCS on the motor outcome, and spasticity in sub-acute ischemic stroke patients.

Thirty sub-acute ischemic stroke patients participated in the study, randomly assigned to one of three groups-tDCS bihemispheric or unihemispheric or sham group. Those patients had stroke in the last 3 months at maximum with NIH stroke score less than 25. ActivaDose tDCS (USA), the only FDA cleared device available for tDCS used in the clinical study to deliver noninvasive brain stimulation, consisted of 20 minutes of 2 mA in each session for twelve sessions three sessions per week. All participants received physiotherapy and rehabilitation therapy was tailored to meet all patients' deficits, and lasted a total of 45 minutes per day, 3 days per week for four weeks.

Inclusion criteria

• Those patients had stroke in the last 3-6 months.
• Subcortical stroke of middle cerebral artery (MCA), caused unilateral hemiplegia.
• National institute of health stroke scale (NIHSS) motor deficits section with score 2 to 15.

Exclusion criteria

• Patient with second onset of stroke or history of Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Metallic Implant or heart pacemakers.
• Primary cerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhagic stroke.
• Seizure or epilepsy or history of epilepsy at the family.
• Intracranial abscess or brain tumor.
• Cardiovascular disease myocardial infarction, heart failure (unstable cardiac status).
• Atrial Fibrillation or paroxysmal AF in the last 30 days.
• Congenital heart diseases.
• Presence of any other neurological or psychiatric disorder.
• Cognitive/consciousness disorders.
• Oher conditions should be excluded (e.g. tumor, cancer, rheumatologic, Lung disease related to infection, renal/ hepatic diseases, deep venous thrombosis and autoimmune diseases).
• Speech disorders (Dysarthria & Aphasia).
• NIH Stroke score above 25, will be excluded.
• Patients who underwent thrombolytic therapy or any vascular interventions.