Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39659706›Full record

ArticleBMJ open sport & exercise medicine2024

Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) modulates quadriceps motor cortex inhibition and facilitation during rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction: a triple-blind, randomised controlled proof of concept trial.

Myles Calder Murphy, Colin Sylvester, Casey Whife, Peter D'Alessandro, Ebonie Kendra Rio, Ann-Maree Vallence

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open sport & exercise medicine, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

9 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Individualized Physical Therapy on Pain and Function in Individuals With Chronic Knee Pain: A Pilot Study.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy · 2026
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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.

Myles Calder MurphyNutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-6068-1096
Colin SylvesterNutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia.
Casey WhifeNutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia.
Peter D'AlessandroUniversity of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
Ebonie Kendra RioLa Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Ann-Maree VallenceSchool of Psychology, College of Health and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: Following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), maladaptive changes occur in the motor cortex representation of the quadriceps, evidenced by increases in intracortical inhibition and facilitation. The primary objective of this proof-of-concept study was to determine if anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can alter quadriceps intracortical inhibition and facilitation in an early-ACLR population after 6 weeks of application during exercise. Methods: We performed a randomised, triple-blind controlled trial for proof of concept comparing anodal-tDCS to sham-tDCS following ACLR. Anodal-tDCS or sham-tDCS was delivered to the primary motor cortex for 20 min, three times per week, for 6 weeks from week 2 post ACLR. Transcranial magnetic stimulation quantified quadriceps short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), long-interval intracortical inhibition (LICI) and short-interval intracortical facilitation (SICF). Significance at p<0.05. Results: Participants were randomised to anodal (n=11) or sham (n=10) tDCS. Participants were predominantly male (n=13) and had a mean (SD) age of 24.4 (4.7) years. For SICI, there was a group-by-time effect for anodal-tDCS (β=0.519, 95% CI 0.057 to 0.981, p=0.028) and an effect for time (β=-1.421, 95% CI -1.919 to -0.923, p<0.001). For LICI, there was no group-by-time (β=-0.217, 95% CI -0.916 to 0.482, p=0.543) or time effect (β=0.039, 95% CI -0.815 to -0.893, p=0.928). For SICF, there was a group-by-time effect for anodal-tDCS (β=-0.764, 95%CI -1.407 to -0.120, p=0.020) but not time (β=0.504, 95% CI -0.627 to 1.635, p=0.383). Conclusion: This study provided proof of the efficacy of anodal-tDCS post ACLR in reducing maladaptive quadriceps inhibition and facilitation. We demonstrated anodal-tDCS improved facilitation and inhibition post ACLR, which are drivers of arthrogenic muscle inhibition.

Indexed as

ACLAdaptations of skeletal muscle to exercise and altered neuromuscular activityQuadriceps

Identifiers

PMID39659706
PMCPMC11629017

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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.