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Table 2 Summary of study methods and findings for studies targeting the upper limb

From: Transcranial direct current stimulation for promoting motor function in cerebral palsy: a review

 

Electrode montage

Intensity

Electrode area

Control

No. sessions

Stimulation duration

Participants

N

Motor training

Summary of findings

Moura et al., 2017 [18]

Anode ipsilesional M1, Cathode contralateral supraorbital ridge

1 mA

25 cm2

Sham group

1

20 min

Spastic hemiplegia, 6–12 years

10 per group

20 min reaching training with constraint

↓ total movement duration during reaching. No other changes

Auvichayapat et al., 2017 [13]

Anode left M1, Cathode contralateral shoulder

1 mA

35 cm2

None

5

20 min

Hemiparetic/ diparetic with spasticity of right UL, 8–12 years

10

Not mentioned

↓ Tardieu score

↑ one aspect of QUEST

Aree-Uea et al., 2014 [19]

Anode left M1, Cathode right shoulder

1 mA

35 cm2

Sham group

5

20 min

Spastic hemiplegia of right UL, 8–18 years

23 per group

Physical therapy, including stretches

↓ MAS

↑ passive shoulder abduction ROM

Gillick et al., 2018 [20]

Cathode contralesional M1, Anode contralateral supraorbital ridge

0.7 mA

Not specified

Sham group

10

20 min

Hemiparetic, 7–21 years

10 per group

120 min CIMT

↑ AHA, no difference between groups.

No change COPM

Kirton et al., 2017 [21]

Cathode contralesional, Anode contralateral supraorbital ridge

1 mA

35 cm2

Sham group

10

20 min

Hemiparetic, 6–18 years

12 active, 11 sham

120 min CIMT

↑ COPM

  1. UL Upper limb, CIMT Constraint induced movement therapy, QUEST Quality of upper extremity skills test, MAS Modified Ashworth scale, ROM Range of movement, AHA Assisting hands assessment, COPM Canadian occupational performance measure