Effects and side effects of tDCS in movement disorders of children and adolescents

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Student Research Committee. MSc Student in Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, International Branch, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. Iran

2 Assistant Professor of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. Iran

3 Professor of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. Iran

Abstract

Background and Aim: Many studies about the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation have been carried out on different conditions in adults. But just few studies have been done in children and adolescents because of the concerns about this stimulation, and a few studies in recent years have studied the effects of this stimulation in this group.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and side effects of brain electrical stimulation in children and adolescents with movement disorders.
Materials & Methods: This article is a literature review, which was performed on studies in the period of 2000-2015, using Pub Med, Science Direct, OVID, Springer, Cochrane and Google scholar about the effects and side effects of tanscranial direct current stimulation in children and adolescents with motor disorders
Results: of 162 articles and based on the inclusion and exclusion criterias finaly 9 articles were chosen to be reviewed. These studies demonstrated that the combined use of tDCS and other treatments such as routine physical therapy, treadmill and virtual reality in children and adolescents improves the balance and gait parameter in lower limbs and decreases the spasticity in upper limbs. The only reported adverse effects In these studies were redness , itching burning and transient mood changes

This study showed that the electrical stimulation of the brain through direct current stimulation not only doesn’t cause seizures ,but also can be used as a therapeutic method in patients with seizures.
Conclusion : the results indicates that other than itching and mood change, this current in children and adolescents does not cause another adverse effects at least in the short term. When it is used with other treatments, it can cause desirable effects in children and adolescents with motor impairment.
Key words:tDCS ،Children, adolescense , , movement disorder, ،side effects.

Keywords

Main Subjects


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Volume 5, Issue 3
September and October 2016
Pages 165-174
  • Receive Date: 02 September 2015
  • Revise Date: 14 December 2015
  • Accept Date: 14 December 2015
  • First Publish Date: 22 September 2016