| Objective: To observe the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with mirror neuron system based therapy(MNST) on upper extremity motor function and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) after stroke. Methods: Forty-four consecutive patients after stroke for rehabilitation were selected at the Department of Neurological Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation Center Hospital of Gansu Province. The onset of all the patients with first ever stroke was from 1 to 6 months. According to the random number table method and the visiting order, patients were divided into 15 patients of group A (routine therapy + tDCS), 15 cases of group B (routine therapy + MNST) and 14 cases of group C (routine therapy + tDCS + MNST). Three groups were assessed with the Fugl Meyer assessmentupper extremity (FMA-UE), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), the modified Barthel Index (MBI) and SEPs before and 4 weeks after treatment. Their SEP N20 latencies were also analyzed. Results: After 4 weeks of treatment, FMA-UE, ARAT, MBI, N20 (latency and amplitude) scores in the three groups were significantly improved as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.05). FMA-UE, ARAT, MBI and N20 (latency and amplitude) in group C were significantly better than those in groups A and B (P<0.05). Conclustion: The tDCS combined with MNST can promote the recovery of upper-extremity motor function and SEPs in hemiparetic patients after stroke. |
