Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used to reduce pain in range of chronic pain states. The aim of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of tDCS on pain reduction and related disability in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP). A computer-based systematic literature search was performed in five databases according to PRISMA guidelines. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the effects of tDCS on pain and related disability in patients with non-specific CLBP were included. Modified Jadad scale and Cochrane's risk of bias assessment were used to determine the studies’ quality and risk of bias. Meta-analyses were performed by calculating the standardized mean difference (SMD) at 95% confidence interval (CI). Nine RCTs (411 participants) were included in the systematic review according to inclusion criteria, while only five studies could be included in the meta-analysis. The primary motor cortex (M1) was the main stimulated target. The meta-analysis showed non-significant effect of multiple sessions of tDCS over M1 on pain reduction and disability post-treatment respectively, (SMD = 0.378; 95% CI = − 0.264–1.020; P = 0.249), (SMD = 0.143; 95% CI = − 0.214–0.499; P = 0.434). No significant adverse events were reported. The current results do not support the clinical use of tDCS for the reduction of pain and related disability in non-specific CLBP. However, the limited number of available evidence limits our conclusions on the effectiveness of these approaches.

经颅直流电刺激 (tDCS) 已被用于减轻慢性疼痛状态范围内的疼痛。本综述的目的是评估 tDCS 对非特异性慢性腰痛 (CLBP) 患者的疼痛减轻和相关残疾的有效性。根据 PRISMA 指南，在五个数据库中进行了基于计算机的系统文献搜索。纳入了评估 tDCS 对非特异性 CLBP 患者疼痛和相关残疾影响的随机对照试验 (RCT)。使用改良的 Jadad 量表和 Cochrane 的偏倚风险评估来确定研究的质量和偏倚风险。通过计算 95% 置信区间 (CI) 的标准化平均差 (SMD) 进行 Meta 分析。根据纳入标准，系统评价纳入了 9 项 RCT（411 名参与者），而只有 5 项研究可以纳入荟萃分析。初级运动皮层 (M1) 是主要的刺激目标。荟萃分析显示，与 M1 相比，多次 tDCS 对治疗后疼痛减轻和残疾的影响不显着（SMD = 0.378；95% CI = − 0.264–1.020；P  = 0.249)，（SMD = 0.143；95% CI = − 0.214–0.499；P  = 0.434）。没有报告显着的不良事件。目前的结果不支持临床使用 tDCS 来减轻非特异性 CLBP 的疼痛和相关残疾。然而，有限数量的可用证据限制了我们对这些方法有效性的结论。