Article

Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is a promising tool for
facilitating motor function. NIBS therapy in conjunction with training using
postural feedback may facilitate physical rehabilitation following posture
disorders (e.g., Pusher Syndrome).
The objectives of this study were,
1) to develop a low-cost point-of-care-testing (POCT) system for standing
posture, 2) to investigate the effects of anodal tDCS on functional reach tasks
using the POCT system. METHODS: Ten community-dwelling elderly (age >50 years)
subjects evaluated the POCT system for standing posture during functional reach
tasks where their balance score on Berg Balance Scale was compared with that from
Center-of-Mass (CoM) - Center-of-Pressure (CoP) posturography. Then, in a
single-blind, sham-controlled study, five healthy right-leg dominant subjects
(age: 26.4 +/- 5.3 yrs) were evaluated using the POCT system under two conditions
- with anodal tDCS of primary motor representations of right tibialis anterior
muscle and with sham tDCS. RESULTS: The maximum CoP-CoM lean-angle was found to
be well correlated with the BBS score in the elderly subjects The anodal tDCS
strongly (p = 0.0000) affected the maximum CoP excursions but not the return
reaction time in healthy. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the CoM-CoP lean-line
could be used for posture feedback and monitoring during tDCS therapy in
conjunction with balance training exercises.

Langue : ANGLAIS