The Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation with balance training on static and dynamic postural control in MS patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system in which the myelin of the central nervous system is damaged. One of the areas that are affected in MS is the cerebellum. Disorders in this structure lead to ataxia, imbalance. Recent studies have shown Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is the application of weak electrical currents (1-2 mA) to modulate the activity of neurons in the brain. However, the main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) on postural control in woman with MS.

The study samples were 20 women with MS (30 to 40 years).Patients received sham or real anodal tDCS of cerebellar for 5 consecutive days in a randomized, sham-controlled study. Main Outcome Measures: postural control (Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Time up and Go (TUG)), were evaluated. The Neuropsychological evaluation was conducted at baseline and immediately after the ctDCS and one month after the completion of the intervention.

Repeated-measures ANOVA was used for the intragroup analyses and intergroup analyses. Berg Balance Scale and Time up and Go scores improved in after active anodal tDCS only were improved in intervention group.

These preliminary data support the notion that tDCS of the cerebellar combined with balance training improves postural control in women with MS. However Future work has to evaluate potential benefits of cerebellar tDCS on postural control in People with MS.