| Objective: To investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on upper limb motor function and somatosensory evoked potentials in patients with subacute ischemic stroke. Methods: A total of 96 patients with upper limb motor dysfunction after stroke were selected and divided into treatment group (n=47; tDCS + conventional upper limb rehabilitation training) and control group (n=49; tDCS pseudo-stimulation + conventional upper limb rehabilitation training) according to the random number table method. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Motor Function (FMA-UE), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), modified Barthel index (MBI) and median nerve evoked potential N20 (latency, amplitude) were used to evaluate the two groups before and 4 weeks after treatment. The results before and after intervention were observed and the correlation between upper limb motor function and somatosensory evoked potentials was analyzed. Results: After 4 weeks of treatment, the FMA-UE, WMFT, and MBI scores of the two groups were significantly increased by intra-group comparison and inter-group comparison (P<0.05). In the treatment group, the amplitude of N20 was increased within and between groups, but there was no significant difference in the latency between the groups. The correlation between the changes of median nerve SEP N20 measurement results and limb function changes in the two groups was analyzed. There was no correlation between WMFT difference and N20 latency difference in the treatment group, except that the difference of WMFT in the treatment group was positively correlated with the difference of N20 latency (r=0.305, P=0.037). There was no correlation between median nerve SEP N20 measurement results and MBI, FMA-UE and WMFT scores after 4 weeks of treatment in the two groups. Conclusion: Transcranial direct current stimulation can improve upper limb motor function and somatosensory evoked potential N20 amplitude in patients with subacute stroke. The latent changes of SEP N20 have a certain correlation with the changes of WMFT score of limb function. |
