| Objective: To observe the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) combined with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on upper limb function during stroke recovery. Methods: From 2022 to 2023, 44 patients with stroke who were hospitalized in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University were selected. According to the envelope method, the patients were randomly divided into control group (n=22) and observation group (n=22). Both groups received conventional drugs, rehabilitation therapy and tDCS treatment, and those in the observation group received taVNS on the basis of conventional treatment. CL and CMCT were measured before and 3 weeks after treatment, and evaluated by FMA-UE and MBI. Results: All patients completed rehabilitation training, and no adverse events occurred. After 3 weeks of treatment, the scores of CL, CMCT, FMA-UE and MBI in the two groups were significantly improved as compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were significantly better than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The taVNS combined with tDCS can promote the recovery of upper limb function in stroke patients with hemiplegia, and improve the ability of daily living. |
