High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation improved dynamic postural control in patients with concussion: A randomised crossover trial.

Abstract

Concussions appear to have lingering effects, with persistent impairment of dynamic and static postural control. The study aimed to ascertain whether anodal High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) over the primary motor cortex, could treat postural control impairments in patients with concussion history. Twenty participants with concussion history were pre-tested using computerised dynamic posturography, which included the sensory organization test (SOT), motor control test (MCT), and unilateral stance test (US). Subsequently, they received either anodal or sham HD-tDCS, followed by three post-tests within 1.5 hours. The all post-tests of SOT composite score (CS), visual score, and vestibular score after anodal HD-tDCS showed significant improvement compared to the pre-test. The SOT CS and visual score significantly improved at all post-tests in the anodal HD-tDCS session compared to the sham session. Post-tests one and two of the SOT vestibular score in the anodal HD-tDCS session significantly exceeded the sham session. However, the SOT somatosensory score, MCT CS, and US did not exhibit significant improvement in the anodal HD-tDCS session compared to the sham session. This study provides the first evidence that HD-tDCS improves immediate and short-term dynamic postural control in adults with concussion history.