Neurophysiological and behavioral effects of tDCS combined with constraint-induced movement therapy in poststroke patients.

Background: Recovery of motor function after stroke may depend on a balance of activity in the neural network involving the affected and the unaffected motor cortices.

Objective: To assess whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can increase the training-induced recovery of motor functions.

Methods: In an exploratory study, 14 patients with chronic stroke and mean Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Motor Assessment of 29 (range = 8-50) entered a double-blind sham-controlled study, aimed to investigate neurophysiological and behavioral effects of bihemispheric tDCS (cathodal stimulation of the unaffected motor cortex and anodal stimulation of the affected motor cortex), combined with constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT).

The 3D path of body centre of mass during adult human walking on force treadmill.

Three-dimensional (3D) path of the body centre of mass (CM) over an entire stride was computed from ground reaction forces during walking at constant average speed on a treadmill mounted on 3D force sensors. Data were obtained from 18 healthy adults at speeds ranging from 0.30 to 1.