Bilateral transcranial direct current stimulation can relieve dysphagia among hemispheric stroke patients
10.3760/cma.j.cn421666-20250330-00278
- VernacularTitle:经颅直流电刺激对大脑半球卒中患者吞咽障碍的影响
- Author:
Guoping DUAN
1
;
Qiuyue WANG
;
Yingxia JI
;
Li ZHANG
;
Jie ZHANG
;
Yuanyuan LI
;
Qinqin HAN
;
Heliu HUA
;
Dongyu WU
Author Information
1. 中国中医科学院望京医院康复二科，北京 100102
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Hemispheric stroke;
Dysphagia;
Transcranial direct current stimulation
- From:
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
2025;47(11):967-972
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on dysphagia in hemispheric stroke patients.Methods:Sixty-two hemispheric stroke patients with dysphagia were randomized into an ipsilateral group, a contralateral group and a bilateral group with 20 in each group. The ipsilateral and contralateral groups received tDCS over their ipsilesional and contralesional hemispheres, respectively, while in the bilateral group it was over both hemispheres. That was followed by conventional swallowing therapy. Before and after 2 weeks of the treatment, swallowing function was assessed using the modified Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MMASA) and a Swallow Severity scale (SSS). Linear regressions were evaluated to highlight the factors most influencing recovery from post-stroke hemispheric dysphagia.Results:After the treatments, the average MMASA and SSS scores had increased significantly in all three groups. There was no significant difference in the average post-treatment MMASA and SSS scores between the ipsilateral and contralateral groups, but the bilateral group showed significantly better average post-treatment MMASA and SSS scores compared to the other two groups. Linear regression analysis confirmed that the tDCS protocol (group allocation) was a significant predictor of recovery.Conclusion:Bilateral tDCS can effectively promote the recovery of swallowing function after a hemispheric stroke. It demonstrates greater therapeutic benefits than unilateral tDCS.
