Table 1 Overview of studies investigating tDCS/tACS/tsDCS in supporting gait, balance and/or lower limb motor function in stroke patients
From: Non-invasive brain stimulation for improving gait, balance, and lower limbs motor function in stroke
References | Participants number, gender, age/time since stroke | Stroke etiology/location/affected hemisphere | Stimulation technique, intensity | Electrodes positioning | Study design/electrodes positioning technique | Number and duration of sessions/evaluations schedule | Outcomes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | Â | Â | Â | Anode | Cathode | Â | Â | Â |
Bornheim et al. [46] | 31 males, 15 females/63 ± 12 years/2 ± 0 days | 46 ischemic/na/26 right, 20 left | (1) 1.0 mA anodal tDCS | IL C3/C4 | CL Fp2/Fp1 | Parallel groups (23 + 23)/10–20 EEG system | 20 sessions à 20 min/pre, post, two-week, three-month, six-month, and one-year follow-up | FMA-LE |
(2) sham tDCS | ||||||||
Chang et al. [48] | 15 males, 9 females/63 ± 11 years/16 ± 6 days | 24 ischemic/na/13 right, 11 left | (1) 2.0 mA anodal tDCS | IL tibialis anterior M1 | CL SO | Parallel groups (12 + 12)/TMS | 10 sessions à 10 min/pre, post | FAC, BBS, MI-LE, FMA-LE, gait (cadence, speed, stride length, step length, step time) |
(2) sham tDCS | ||||||||
Tahtis et al. [59] | 11 males, 3 females/62 ± 12 years/23 ± 8 days | 14 ischemic/8 subcortical, 6 cortical/8 right, 6 left | (1) 2.0 mA bilateral tDCS | IL 3.0 cm lateral to CZ | CL 3.0 cm lateral to CZ | Parallel groups (7 + 7)/10–20 EEG system | 1 session à 15 min/pre, post | TUG, POMA |
(2) sham tDCS | ||||||||
Manji et al. [53] | 21males, 9 females/63 ± 11 years/33 ± 9 days | 17 ischemic, 13 hemorrhagic/na /na | (1) 1.0 mA anodal + cathodal tDCS | 3.5 cm anterior to CZ | inion | Crossover (30–30)/10–20 EEG system | 2 × 5 session à 20 min/pre, post1, post2 | 10MWT, FMA-LE, TUG, TCT, POMA |
(2) sham tDCS | ||||||||
Sayes et al. [57] | 17 males, 14 females/63 ± 9 years/42 ± 18 days | 26 ischemic, 5 hemorrhagic/7 subcortical, 24 cortical/14 right, 17 left | (1) 1.5 mA bilateral tDCS | IL C3/C4 | CL C3/C4 | Parallel groups (16–15)/10–20 EEG system | 16 sessions à 20 min/pre, post | TT, RMI, TIS |
(2) sham tDCS | ||||||||
Andrade et al. [45] | 35 males, 25 females/69 ± 3 years/2.7 ± 0.5 months | na/na/na | (1) 2.0 mA anodal tDCS | IL C3/C4 | CL SO | Parallel groups (15 + 15 + 15 + 15)/10–20 EEG system | 10 sessions à 20 min/pre, post, one-month, and three-month follow-up | FSST, OSI; BBS, FES-I, STS, 6MWT, |
| Â | (2) 2.0Â mA cathodal tDCS | IL SO | CL C3/C4 | |||||
| Â | (3) 2.0Â mA bilateral tDCS | IL C3/C4 | CL C3/C4 | |||||
| Â | (4) sham tDCS | Â | Â | |||||
Klomjai et al. [50] | 14 males, 5 females/57 ± 3 years/3.2 ± 1,7 months | 19 ischemic/16 subcortical, 3 cortical/12 right, 7 left | (1) 2.0 mA bilateral tDCS | IL M1 | CL M1 | Crossover (19–19)/10–20 EEG system | 2 × 1 session à 20 min/pre1, post1, pre2, post2 | TUG, STS, MVC (knee extensor) |
(2) sham tDCS | ||||||||
Geroin et al. [49] | 14 males, 6 females/63 ± 7 years/26 ± 6 months | na/15 cortical, 5 subcortical,/na | (1) 1.5 mA anodal tDCS | IL leg M1 | CL SO | Parallel groups (10 + 10)/na | 10 sessions à 7 min/pre, post, two-weak follow-up | 6MWT, 10MWT, FAC, MI-LE, RMI, gait (cadence, symmetry, support time) |
(2) sham tDCS | ||||||||
Picelli et al. [56] | 22 males, 8 females/63 ± 8 years/4.7 ± 2.8 years | 30 ischemic/11 subcortical, 19 cortical/na | (1) 2.0 mA anodal tDCS + sham tsDCS | IL C3/C4 | CL SO | Parallel groups (10 + 10 + 10)/10–20 EEG system | 10 sessions à 40 min/pre, post, two-week, and four-week follow-up | 6MWT, gait (cadence, support time) |
(2) 2.5 mA cathodal tsDCS + sham tDCS | NA shoulder | 10Th | ||||||
(3) 2,0 mA anodal tDCS + 2.5 mA cathodal tsDCS | IL C3/C4 + NA shoulder | CL S0 + 10Th | ||||||
Picelli et al. [55] | 13 males, 7 females/63 ± 12 years/5.0 ± 3.7 years | 20 ischemic/7 subcortical, 13 cortical/na | (1) 2.0 mA cathodal tDCS | A bucinator muscle | CL O1/O2 | Parallel groups (10 + 10)/10–20 EEG system | 10 sessions à 20 min/pre, post, two-week, and four-week follow-up | 6MWT, FAC, MI-LE, MAS, gait (cadence, support time) |
(2) 2.0Â mA anodal tDCS | IL leg M1 | CL SO | ||||||
Picelli et al. [54] | 21 males, 19 females/65 ± 10 years/5.3 ± 3.7 years | 40 ischemic, 14 subcortical, 26 cortical/na | (1) 2.0 mA cathodal tDCS | A bucinator muscle | CL O1/O2 | Parallel groups (20 + 20)/10–20 EEG system | 10 sessions à 20 min/pre, post, two two-week, and four-week follow-up | 6MWT, gait (cadence, support time) |
(1) 2.0Â mA cathodal tDCS | NA bucinator muscle | IL O1/O2 | ||||||
Madhavan et al. [52] | 30 males, 10 females/60 ± 9 years/5.8 ± 4.6 years | 25 ischemic, 14 hemorrhagic, 1 na/na/na | (1) 2.0 mA anodal tDCS | IL leg M1 | CL SO | Parallel groups (20 + 20)/10–20 EEG system | 12 sessions à 15 min/pre, post, three months follow-up | 10MWT, 6MWT, BBS, TUG, mini-BEST, FMA-LE, ABC |
(2) sham tDCS | Â | Â | ||||||
Koganemaru et al. [51] | 8 males, 3 females/66 ± 4 years/6.2 ± 2.6 years | 4 ischemic/7 hemorrhagic/11 subcortical/na | (1) 0.0–2.0 mA bilateral tACS | IL tibialis anterior M1 | CL 3.0 cm lateral and 3.0 cm rostral to inion | Crossover (11–11)/TMS | 2 × 1 session à 20 min/pre1, post1, pre2, post2 | 10MWT, VAS, MAS |
(2) sham tACS |  |  | Crossover (8–8)/TMS | 2 × 5 sessions à 20 min/pre1, post1, one-week follow-up1, pre2, post2, one-week follow-up2 | 10MWT, 6MWT, TUG, gait (gait speed, joint angles), mini-BEST, VAS, MAS | |||
Zandvliet et al. [60] | 12 males, 3 females/57 ± 10 years/9 ± 12 years | 11 ischemic, 4 hemorrhagic/2 subcortical, 13 cortical/9 right, 6 left | (1) 1.5 mA anodal tDCS | IL 3.0 cm lateral to inion | NA bucinator muscle | Crossover (15–15-15)/10–20 EEG system | 3 × 1 session à 20 min/pre1, post1, pre2, post2, pre3, post3 | eyes open, eyes closed and tandem stance (center of pressure amplitude, velocity, range) |
(2) 1.5Â mA anodal tDCS | CL 3.0Â cm lateral to inion | A bucinator muscle | ||||||
(3) sham tDCS | Â | Â | ||||||
Seo et al. [58] | 16 males, 5 females/62 ± 9 years/9.5 ± 8.6 years | 16 ischemic, 5 hemorrhagic/na/13 right, 8 left | (1) 2.0 mA anodal tDCS | IL leg M1 | CL SO | Parallel groups (11 + 10)/10–20 EEG system | 10 sessions à 20 min/pre, post, four-week follow-up | 10MWT, 6MWT, FAC, BBS, FMA-LE, MRC (hip, knee, ankle) |
(2) sham tDCS | Â | Â | ||||||
Cattagni et al. [47] | 19 males, 5 females/57 ± 13 years/10 ± 7 years | 17 ischemic, 7 hemorrhagic/na/13 right, 11 left | (1) 2.0 mA anodal tDCS | IL leg M1 | CL SO | Crossover (24–24)/10–20 EEG system | 2 × 1 session à 30 min/pre, post | gait (speed, step length) |
(2) sham tDCS | Â | Â | ||||||
Picelli et al. [55] | 13 males, 7 females/63 ± 12 years/5.0 ± 3.7 years | 20 ischemic/7 subcortical, 13 cortical/na | (1) 2.0 mA cathodal tDCS | A bucinator muscle | CL O1/O2 | Parallel groups (10 + 10)/10–20 EEG system | 10 sessions à 20 min/pre, post, two-week, and four-week follow-up | 6MWT, FAC, MI-LE, MAS, gait (cadence, support time) |
(2) 2.0Â mA anodal tDCS | IL leg M1 | CL SO | ||||||
Picelli et al. [54] | 21 males, 19 females/65 ± 10 years/5.3 ± 3.7 years | 40 ischemic, 14 subcortical, 26 cortical/na | (1) 2.0 mA cathodal tDCS | A bucinator muscle | CL O1/O2 | Parallel groups (20 + 20)/10–20 EEG system | 10 sessions à 20 min/pre, post, two two-week, and four-week follow-up | 6MWT, gait (cadence, support time) |
(1) 2.0Â mA cathodal tDCS | NA bucinator muscle | IL O1/O2 | ||||||
Madhavan et al. [52] | 30 males, 10 females/60 ± 9 years/5.8 ± 4.6 years | 25 ischemic, 14 hemorrhagic, 1 na/na/na | (1) 2.0 mA anodal tDCS | IL leg M1 | CL SO | Parallel groups (20 + 20)/10–20 EEG system | 12 sessions à 15 min/pre, post, three months follow-up | 10MWT, 6MWT, BBS, TUG, mini-BEST, FMA-LE, ABC |
(2) sham tDCS | ||||||||
Koganemaru et al. [51] | 8 males, 3 females/66 ± 4 years/6.2 ± 2.6 years | 4 ischemic/7 hemorrhagic/11 subcortical/na | (1) 0.0–2.0 mA bilateral tACS | IL tibialis anterior M1 | CL 3.0 cm lateral and 3.0 cm rostral to inion | Crossover (11–11)/TMS | 2 × 1 session à 20 min/pre1, post1, pre2, post2 | 10MWT, VAS, MAS |
(2) sham tACS | Crossover (8–8)/TMS | 2 × 5 sessions à 20 min/pre1, post1, one-week follow-up1, pre2, post2, one-week follow-up2 | 10MWT, 6MWT, TUG, gait (gait speed, joint angles), mini-BEST, VAS, MAS | |||||
Zandvliet et al. [60] | 12 males, 3 females/57 ± 10 years/9 ± 12 years | 11 ischemic, 4 hemorrhagic/2 subcortical, 13 cortical/9 right, 6 left | (1) 1.5 mA anodal tDCS | IL 3.0 cm lateral to inion | NA bucinator muscle | Crossover (15–15-15)/10–20 EEG system | 3 × 1 session à 20 min/pre1, post1, pre2, post2, pre3, post3 | eyes open, eyes closed and tandem stance (center of pressure amplitude, velocity, range) |
(2) 1.5Â mA anodal tDCS | CL 3.0Â cm lateral to inion | A bucinator muscle | ||||||
(3) sham tDCS | Â | Â | ||||||
Seo et al. [58] | 16 males, 5 females/62 ± 9 years/9.5 ± 8.6 years | 16 ischemic, 5 hemorrhagic/na/13 right, 8 left | (1) 2.0 mA anodal tDCS | IL leg M1 | CL SO | Parallel groups (11 + 10)/10–20 EEG system | 10 sessions à 20 min/pre, post, four-week follow-up | 10MWT, 6MWT, FAC, BBS, FMA-LE, MRC (hip, knee, ankle) |
(2) sham tDCS | ||||||||
Cattagni et al. [47] | 19 males, 5 females/57 ± 13 years/10 ± 7 years | 17 ischemic, 7 hemorrhagic/na/13 right, 11 left | (1) 2.0 mA anodal tDCS | IL leg M1 | CL SO | Crossover (24–24)/10–20 EEG system | 2 × 1 session à 30 min/pre, post | gait (speed, step length) |
(2) sham tDCS | ||||||||