Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41761341›Full record

SynthesisJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2026

Does transcranial direct current stimulation enhance sensorimotor recovery in chronic ankle instability? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Zhaohong Zeng, Zhen Xu, Bin Shen, Xin Liang, Xuekai Zong, Jiaxin Luo, Junhong Zhou, Weijie Fu

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
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

8 authors.

Zhaohong ZengKey Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, 200438, China.
Zhen XuKey Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, 200438, China.
Bin ShenKey Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, 200438, China.
Xin LiangKey Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, 200438, China.
Xuekai ZongKey Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, 200438, China.
Jiaxin LuoKey Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, 200438, China.
Junhong ZhouThe Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, 02131, USA. junhongzhou@hsl.harvard.edu.
Weijie FuSchool of Intelligent Sports Engineering, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, 200438, China. fuweijie@sus.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7552-0452

Funding

2024 Shanghai Oriental Talent Plan top talent project BJJY2024013National Natural Science Foundation of China 12572370
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeChronic ankle instability (CAI) is related to sensorimotor dysfunction and maladaptive neuroplasticity. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is considered a potential method for CAI rehabilitation, but its efficacy and underlying mechanisms remain inconclusive. This study aimed to comprehensively synthesise the current evidence of tDCS for sensorimotor recovery in CAI and evaluate its efficacy, moderating factors and potential mechanisms.

methodsPubMed, Web of Science, Embase, SPORTDiscus and Scopus were searched in January 2026. The random effects model was employed to meta-analyses to estimate pooled effect sizes. Subgroup analyses and meta-regressions were performed to reveal potential moderators. Risk of bias was evaluated using the RoB 2 tool, and methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale.

resultsEleven trials involving 310 participants were included. Compared with control, tDCS significantly improved balance control (g = 0.27, p = 0.009) and sensorimotor functional performance (g = 0.16, p = 0.023), whereas no statistically significant change was observed in kinematics (g = 0.16, p = 0.081), neural excitability (g = − 0.07, p = 0.633) and patient-reported outcomes (g = 0.11, p = 0.558). Subgroup analyses showed that online stimulation, High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) and the combination with foot core exercise (FCE) appeared to yield enhanced improvements in balance.

conclusionstDCS is of great promise to improve balance control and sensorimotor function in CAI. Still the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms should be more explicitly characterized. Future studies are warranted to examine such benefits of interventions using tDCS for individuals suffering from CAI.

Indexed as

Ankle InjuriesAnkle JointJoint InstabilityTranscranial Direct Current StimulationChronic DiseaseHumansPostural BalanceRecovery of FunctionChronic ankle instabilityMeta-analysisSensorimotor recoveryTranscranial direct current stimulation

Identifiers

PMID41761341
PMCPMC13045072

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.