Riassunto dello studio

Eighteen randomized controlled trials involving 959 patients with chronic orthopedic joint pain were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis comparing transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) vs. control interventions. Pooled outcomes of interest included reductions in pain scores for the knee, lower back, and shoulder. Significant reductions in chronic orthopedic joint pain were observed following tDCS compared to controls for knee, lower back, and shoulder conditions. Subgroup analyses demonstrated varying effectiveness based on the number of tDCS treatment sessions, with significant pain reductions noted particularly after multiple sessions. The main findings suggest that tDCS could be considered a potential stand-alone or supplemental therapy for chronic knee and lower back pain, indicating that treatment effectiveness varies depending on the number of treatment sessions.