Combined GangTrainer GT1 and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in gait rehabilitation in chronic stroke patients: a randomized control trial

Introduction. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), has shown to facilitate motor recovery after stroke [1]. Several studies reported the efficacy of GangTrainer I therapy (GT) in gait rehabilitation in patients with stroke. Aim of this study was to asses the efficacy of GT therapy associated with tDCS in patients with chronic stroke. Materials and methods. 32 patients underwent ten, 50- minutes, training sessions, over a 2-weeks period. Each session consisted of: a 30 minutes GT with tDCS applied in the first 7 minutes for group 1 (EG); a 30 minutes GT performed for group 2 (CG1); a 50 minutes conventional training for group 3 (CG2). Patients were evaluated before (T0), immediately after (T1) and 2 weeks after the end of training (T2) by means of the Six minutes walking test (6MinWT), Ten meters walking test (10MWT), Barthel Index Scale (BI), Rivermead motor assessment score (RMAS), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), Motricity Index (MI) and spatio-temporal gait analysis. Results. At T0 and T1 evaluations in the before/after comparison, EG and CG1 showed a significant improvement in the 6minWT, 10MWT, RMAS, FAC, MI and spatio- temporal gait parameters (step length, speed, cadence, single and double support time). These improvements were maintained at T2. No significant changes were found for the CG2. No significant changes were found between EG and CG1. Conclusion. The GT showed to improve gait in chronic stroke patients. Exposure to direct current polarization in combination with GT 1 didn’t improve gait performance more than only GT training.