Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31521179›Full record

SynthesisJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2019

Combining transcranial direct-current stimulation with gait training in patients with neurological disorders: a systematic review.

Rubén Hernández de Paz, Diego Serrano-Muñoz, Soraya Pérez-Nombela, Elisabeth Bravo-Esteban, Juan Avendaño-Coy, Julio Gómez-Soriano

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
18citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
2.4field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

18 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 35 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Rubén Hernández de PazToledo Physiotherapy Research Group (GIFTO), Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursery, Castilla La Mancha University, 45071, Toledo, Spain.
Diego Serrano-MuñozToledo Physiotherapy Research Group (GIFTO), Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursery, Castilla La Mancha University, 45071, Toledo, Spain. dserranomu@externas.sescam.jccm.es.ORCID 0000-0002-7521-5087
Soraya Pérez-NombelaToledo Physiotherapy Research Group (GIFTO), Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursery, Castilla La Mancha University, 45071, Toledo, Spain.
Elisabeth Bravo-EstebanToledo Physiotherapy Research Group (GIFTO), Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursery, Castilla La Mancha University, 45071, Toledo, Spain.
Juan Avendaño-CoyToledo Physiotherapy Research Group (GIFTO), Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursery, Castilla La Mancha University, 45071, Toledo, Spain.
Julio Gómez-SorianoToledo Physiotherapy Research Group (GIFTO), Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursery, Castilla La Mancha University, 45071, Toledo, Spain.
University of Castilla-La Mancha · ESServicio de Salud de Castilla La Mancha · ES

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTranscranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) is an easy-to-apply, cheap, and safe technique capable of affecting cortical brain activity. However, its effectiveness has not been proven for many clinical applications.

objectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to determine whether the effect of different strategies for gait training in patients with neurological disorders can be enhanced by the combined application of tDCS compared to sham stimulation. Additionally, we attempted to record and analyze tDCS parameters to optimize its efficacy.

methodsA search in Pubmed, PEDro, and Cochrane databases was performed to find randomized clinical trials that combined tDCS with gait training. A chronological filter from 2010 to 2018 was applied and only studies with variables that quantified the gait function were included.

resultsA total of 274 studies were found, of which 25 met the inclusion criteria. Of them, 17 were rejected based on exclusion criteria. Finally, 8 trials were evaluated that included 91 subjects with stroke, 57 suffering from Parkinson's disease, and 39 with spinal cord injury. Four of the eight assessed studies did not report improved outcomes for any of its variables compared to the placebo treatment.

conclusionsThere are no conclusive results that confirm that tDCS can enhance the effect of the different strategies for gait training. Further research for specific pathologies, with larger sample sizes and adequate follow-up periods, are required to optimize the existing protocols for applying tDCS.

Indexed as

Combined Modality TherapyGait Disorders, NeurologicHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTranscranial Direct Current StimulationGaitNeurological disorderRehabilitationTranscranial direct-current stimulation

Identifiers

PMID31521179
PMCPMC6744683
OpenAlexW2972684806

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.