Effects of combining sensory-motor exercises with transcranial direct current stimulation on cortical processing and clinical symptoms in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy: An exploratory randomized controlled trial.

研究概要

Thirty-four patients with chronic unilateral Lumbosacral Radiculopathy (LSR) were randomized to receive sensory-motor exercises plus real anodal tDCS (n=17) or the same exercises plus sham tDCS (n=17). The primary outcome of interest was change in pain intensity, disability, and lumbar motor control. Secondary outcomes of interest included SEP amplitudes (N80, N150), MEP amplitude, and active motor threshold (AMT) for multifidus (MF) and transversus abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO). Outcomes were assessed pre- and 24–48 h post-treatment (after 12 sessions across 4 weeks). Overall, the results of the study revealed significant within-group improvements in pain, disability, and motor control in both arms, with no between-group differences, while neurophysiological measures showed greater excitability changes with tDCS (e.g., AMT↓ and N80↑). In short, sensorimotor exercises drove the clinical gains; tDCS provided additional modulation of cortical excitability without added short-term clinical benefit.