ReviewDiagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)2021
Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined with Physiotherapy on Gait Pattern, Balance, and Functionality in Stroke Patients. A Systematic Review.
Review in Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 35 citations in OpenAlex.
- Application of Neuromodulation Techniques in the Treatment of Proprioceptive Disorders After Stroke: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Neural plasticity · 2025Pooled it
- Brazilian practice guidelines for stroke rehabilitation: Part II.Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria · 2022Guideline
- The recovery of lower limb function in stroke patients: which sequence of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with lower limb rehabilitation robot is most effective-A randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2026Trial
- Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with gait-oriented motor training on disability, quality of life, and motor function in individuals with subacute stroke: a randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine · 2025Trial
- Trial
- Comparison of a single session of tDCS on cerebellum vs. motor cortex in stroke patients: a randomized sham-controlled trial.Annals of medicine · 2023Trial
- Combined Functional Electrical and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Foot Drop: A Case Series.Journal of medical cases · 2026Article
- Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation as an Adjunct to Physiotherapy in Lacunar Stroke.Cureus · 2026Article
- What are the optimal transcranial direct current stimulation parameters and design elements to modulate corticospinal excitability? A systematic review and longitudinal meta-analysis.Neurological research and practice · 2025Review
- Evaluating ChatGPT's ability to simplify scientific abstracts for clinicians and the public.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Changing genes, cells and networks to reprogram the brain after stroke.Nature neuroscience · 2025Review
- Molecular Changes in the Ischemic Brain as Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Targets-TMS and tDCS Mechanisms, Therapeutic Challenges, and Combination Therapies.Biomedicines · 2024Review
- Neurostimulation After Stroke.Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America · 2024Review
- Exploring the Prospects of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES) as a Therapeutic Intervention for Post-Stroke Motor Recovery: A Narrative Review.Brain sciences · 2024Review
- Update on Non-invasive Brain Stimulation on Stroke Motor Impairment: A Narrative Review.Brain & NeuroRehabilitation · 2024Review
- Article
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in the Treatment of Gait Disturbance in Post-Stroke Patients: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Noninvasive Brain Stimulation for Neurorehabilitation in Post-Stroke Patients.Brain sciences · 2023Review
- Effect of optimized transcranial direct current stimulation on motor cortex activation in patients with sub-acute or chronic stroke: a study protocol for a single-blinded cross-over randomized control trial.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2023Article
- Update on Stroke Rehabilitation in Motor Impairment.Brain & NeuroRehabilitation · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) together with conventional physiotherapy in motor rehabilitation after stroke has been widely studied. Despite this, few studies have focused on its application in gait and balance rehabilitation. This review aimed to determine the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with conventional physiotherapy on gait, balance, and the functionality of the lower limb after stroke.
methodsThis review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Four electronic databases were systematically searched for relevant articles. Randomized clinical trials in English or Spanish that evaluated the use of the transcranial direct current stimulation, combined with physiotherapy, to improve gait, balance, and lower limb functionality after stroke were included. MAIN
results10 articles were included, with a total of 222 subjects. Data about population, assessment tools, protocols, sessions, and results were extracted. The methodological quality of the included studies ranged between 3 and 5.
conclusionThe use of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with physiotherapy improves gait parameters, static and dynamic balance, and lower limb functionality in stroke patients. Long-term effects have not yet been demonstrated.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.