SynthesisJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2021
Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with robotic therapy for upper and lower limb function after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials.
Synthesis in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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
19 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Industrial-grade collaborative robots for motor rehabilitation after stroke and spinal cord injury: a systematic narrative review.Biomedical engineering online · 2025Pooled it
- Effects of robotic therapy associated with noninvasive brain stimulation on motor function in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.The journal of spinal cord medicine · 2025Pooled it
- Efficacy of combined non-invasive brain stimulation and robot-assisted gait training on lower extremity recovery post-stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Pooled it
- Non-invasive brain stimulation for stroke-related motor impairment and disability: an umbrella review of systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2025Pooled it
- Network meta-analysis of different electrical stimulation therapies for lower limb functional rehabilitation in stroke patients.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Pooled it
- Examining the effectiveness of motor imagery combined with non-invasive brain stimulation for upper limb recovery in stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2024Pooled it
- Combined therapy with contralateral controlled functional electrical stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation for early post-stroke hand dysfunction.Biomedical engineering online · 2025Trial
- Trial
- Article
- Brain-computer interface technology for motor rehabilitation in severe stroke: a narrative review.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2026Review
- Optimizing tDCS parameters for post-stroke upper limb recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.International journal of surgery protocols · 2025Article
- Cathodal tDCS and robotic therapy for upper limb rehabilitation in chronic stroke: a randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Article
- Exploring the Prospects of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES) as a Therapeutic Intervention for Post-Stroke Motor Recovery: A Narrative Review.Brain sciences · 2024Review
- Article
- Is the Combination of Robot-Assisted Therapy and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Useful for Upper Limb Motor Recovery? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Noninvasive Brain Stimulation for Neurorehabilitation in Post-Stroke Patients.Brain sciences · 2023Review
- Research Hotspots and Frontiers of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Stroke: A Bibliometric Analysis.Brain sciences · 2022Review
- Article
- Safety and effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on hand function in preschool children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: A pilot study.Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method able to modulate neuronal activity after stroke. The aim of this systematic review was to determine if tDCS combined with robotic therapy (RT) improves limb function after stroke when compared to RT alone.
methodsA search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published prior to July 15, 2021 was performed. The main outcome was function assessed with the Fugl-Meyer motor assessment for upper extremities (FM/ue) and 10-m walking test (10MWT) for the lower limbs. As secondary outcomes, strength was assessed with the Motricity Index (MI) or Medical Research Council scale (MRC), spasticity with the modified Ashworth scale (MAS), functional independence with the Barthel Index (BI), and kinematic parameters.
resultsTen studies were included for analysis (n = 368 enrolled participants). The results showed a non-significant effect for tDCS combined with RT to improve upper limb function [standardized mean difference (SMD) = - 0.12; 95% confidence interval (CI): - 0.35-0.11)]. However, a positive effect of the combined therapy was observed in the lower limb function (SMD = 0.48; 95% CI: - 0.15-1.12). Significant results favouring tDCS combined with RT were not found in strength (SMD = - 0.15; 95% CI: - 0.4-0.1), spasticity [mean difference (MD) = - 0.15; 95% CI: - 0.8-0.5)], functional independence (MD = 2.5; 95% CI: - 1.9-6.9) or velocity of movement (SMD = 0.06; 95% CI: - 0.3-0.5) with a "moderate" or "low" recommendation level according to the GRADE guidelines.
conclusionsCurrent findings suggest that tDCS combined with RT does not improve upper limb function, strength, spasticity, functional independence or velocity of movement after stroke. However, tDCS may enhance the effects of RT alone for lower limb function. tDCS parameters and the stage or type of stroke injury could be crucial factors that determine the effectiveness of this therapy.
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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.