Abstract 07
The Impact of transcranial direct current stimulation on manual function and amplitude of phonoarticulatory organs of individuals diagnosed with cerebral palsy
Vila-Nova C 1; Sanches L 2; Parente J 3; Lucena R 4.
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, 2. Faculdade Bahiana de Medicina, 3. União Metropolitana de Educação e Cultura (UNIME)
INTRODUCTION: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive chronic encephalopathy that is characterized by a persistent movement and posture disorder. It originates from a cerebral lesion that occurs in an underdeveloped brain. The transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has gained the spotlight in the past few years, as trials have been investigating its effect size in different biological functions.
OBJECTIVE: The primary objective is to determine the impact of the tDCS over movement amplitude of the tongue, mouth an o the dexterity of the superior limbs of children diagnosed with hemiplegic spastic cerebral palsy. The parameters considered will be sensitivity, movement coordination and proprioception.
METHODS: It is a double blinded cross over trial. The sample will be with participants that present age interval between 5 and 14 years, diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Participants of both sexes will be included. A transcranial direct current stimulation will be made by device of the brand TCT Stimulator (TCT Research Limited), this will be equipped with rubber electrodes in sponges soaked in saline solution. The electrodes present dimensions of 5cm and 7cm. This equipment allows the fixation of the direct current at the wanted intensity. A low amperage current (1mA) will be applied at M1, the electrodes will be placed, superficially, on the cranial scalp. The location of these (electrodes) will follow a localization system based on electroencephalogram (EEG) 10/20 (Delamonica, 1984).
RESULTS: A improvement in the movement of muscles that are responsible for the speech and for feeding of these subjects is expected, this is based on the rational that this protocol is used in improving of motor abilities. Since there is a short number of studies in this topic, even M1 being a highly utilized cortical area to reach the outcome stated above, the tDCS intervention on CP is has not yet been well analyzed.
CONCLUSIONS: The alternative hypothesis is expected to be true, to elaborate in more profound and detailed trials about the topic.
KEYWORDS: cerebral palsy; transcranial direct current stimulation; speech therapy
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: None
FUNDING/FINANCIAL SUPPORT: None