Objective:

to determine efficacy of tDcs in post stroke fatigue

Background:

Post-stroke fatigue poses a common and debilitating challenge for stroke survivors. The utilization of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) shows promise as a non-invasive strategy for tackling this fatigue. This study actively aims to thoroughly evaluate the effectiveness of tDCS in alleviating post-stroke fatigue and strives to make significant contributions to the field of stroke rehabilitation through systematic assessment

Design/Methods:

 We systematically searched multiple databases such as multiple databases, including Midline via PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library ,Embase, Wanfagn, VIPand CNKI  for relevant RCTs on transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Post-Stroke Fatigue (PSF) before August 2023. Included studies had full texts available and employed validated fatigue assessment scales. Quality assessment was conducted using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (ROB1). Primary outcome was Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) change, with Modified Barthel Index (MBI) change as a secondary outcome, and meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager version 5.4.1 for Windows.

Results:

We conducted a meta-analysis involving three studies, encompassing a total of 155 participants. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in fatigue levels with transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) (Std. Mean Difference [SMD] = -0.88, 95% CI [-1.22 to -0.55], p < 0.00001). However, there was no notable enhancement in patients' daily activity performance, as measured by the Modified Barthel Index (BMI) (effect size: 0.54, 95% CI [0.13 to -1.24], p = 0.52). Furthermore, an analysis based on the magnitude of electric current did not reveal a significant difference between 1 and 2 mA (Chi² = 0.97, df = 1, p = 0.32; I² = 0%).   None of the included studies reported any serious adverse effects.

Conclusions:

   This study furnishes robust evidence affirming the effectiveness of tDCS in alleviating post-fatigue symptoms, highlighting its potential as a valuable intervention for individuals dealing with post-stroke fatigue.