Balance impairment and lack of postural orientation are serious problems in patients with repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). To investigate whether anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) can improve balance control and gait in repetitive mTBI rat models. In this prospective animal study, 65 repetitive mTBI rats were randomly assigned to two groups: the tDCS group and the control group. To create repetitive mTBI model rats, we induced mTBI in the rats for 3 consecutive days. The tDCS group received one session of anodal tDCS over the M1 area 24 h after the third induced mTBI, while the control group did not receive tDCS treatment. Motor-evoked potential (MEP), foot-fault test, and rotarod test were evaluated before mTBI, before tDCS and after tDCS. The Mann–Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to assess the effects of variables between the two groups. Anodal tDCS over the M1 area significantly improved the amplitude of MEP in the tDCS group (p = 0.041). In addition, rotarod duration was significantly increased in the tDCS group (p = 0.001). The foot-fault ratio was slightly lower in the tDCS group, however, this was not statistically significant. Anodal tDCS at the M1 area could significantly improve the amplitude of MEP and balance function in a repetitive mTBI rat model. We expect that anodal tDCS would have the potential to improve balance in patients with repetitive mTBI.

中文翻译：

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经颅直流电刺激对大鼠重复性轻度创伤性脑损伤的平衡和步态

平衡障碍和姿势定向障碍是重复性轻度创伤性脑损伤 (mTBI) 患者的严重问题。研究对初级运动皮层 (M1) 进行阳极经颅直流电刺激 (tDCS) 是否可以改善重复性 mTBI 大鼠模型的平衡控制和步态。在这项前瞻性动物研究中，65 只重复性 mTBI 大鼠被随机分配到两组：tDCS 组和对照组。为了创建重复的 mTBI 模型大鼠，我们连续 3 天在大鼠中诱导 mTBI。在第三次诱导 mTBI 后 24 小时，tDCS 组在 M1 区域接受了一次阳极 tDCS，而对照组没有接受 tDCS 治疗。在 mTBI 之前、tDCS 之前和 tDCS 之后评估运动诱发电位 (MEP)、足部故障测试和旋转棒测试。Mann-Whitney U 检验和 Wilcoxon 符号秩检验用于评估两组之间变量的影响。M1 区域的阳极 tDCS 显着提高了 tDCS 组的 MEP 幅度（p = 0.041）。此外，tDCS 组的旋转棒持续时间显着增加（p = 0.001）。tDCS 组的足部过错率略低，但没有统计学意义。M1 区域的阳极 tDCS 可以显着改善重复 mTBI 大鼠模型中 MEP 的幅度和平衡功能。我们预计阳极 tDCS 有可能改善重复性 mTBI 患者的平衡。tDCS 组的旋转棒持续时间显着增加（p = 0.001）。tDCS 组的足部过错率略低，但没有统计学意义。M1 区域的阳极 tDCS 可以显着改善重复 mTBI 大鼠模型中 MEP 的幅度和平衡功能。我们预计阳极 tDCS 有可能改善重复性 mTBI 患者的平衡。tDCS 组的旋转棒持续时间显着增加（p = 0.001）。tDCS 组的足部过错率略低，但没有统计学意义。M1 区域的阳极 tDCS 可以显着改善重复 mTBI 大鼠模型中 MEP 的幅度和平衡功能。我们预计阳极 tDCS 有可能改善重复性 mTBI 患者的平衡。