The effect of Concurrent cerebral transcranial direct current stimulation and neuromuscular coordination exercises on balance elderly people

Frequent falls in the elderly have a direct relationship with postural control and balance. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of Concurrent cerebral transcranial direct current stimulation and neuromuscular coordination exercises on balance elderly people.

This study was an experimental, pre- and posttest design. The participants of this study were 24 elderly 60-75 year old male and female who were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two “Intervention” (real) and “control” (Placebo) groups (n=12). After a preliminary assessment of equilibrium parameters by Computerized Dynamic Posturorghraphy apparatus, “Intervention” group received direct current stimulation over the cerebellum at 2mA and “Placebo” group received sham stimulation, twenty minutes each session in five days during two weeks. At each session, immediately after stimulation, participants performed half-hour equilibrium exercises on the Huber apparatus. After completing five sessions, the variables were re-measured. Data analysis performed using MANCOVA and ANCOVA and SPSS 23 software.

The results of this study showed that current direct stimulation of the cerebral had significant effect on the postural control equilibrium variables in the first and fourth sensory condition (P<0.05). However, it did not have a significant effect on the stability of the elderly in the second, third, fifth, sixth sensory condition and composite balance (P>0.05). In addition, cerebral electrical stimulation with balance training improved postural control performance of visual system (P<0.05), but postural control performance of somatosensory system, vestibular system, and visual preference did not significantly improve (P>0.05).

The results of this study showed that cerebral TDCS with balance training has little beneficial effects on postural control and balance of elderly people and can, to a lesser extent, facilitate motor learning and improve motor adaptation.