Active tDCS Versus Sham tDCS for Upper Limb Recovery in Incomplete Tetraplegic Patients

"tDCS application is anodic, in the M1 area (Primary Motor Cortex) right or left, contralateral to the pre-defined target limb. The cathode is positioned in the supraorbital area, contralateral to the anode.~Active stimulation is carried out with a current intensity of 2 milliAmpere. Each tDCS session lasts 20 minutes. tDCS is administered simultaneously during the first 20 minutes of the usual upper limb rehabilitation physiotherapy, which will continue for a further 20 minutes.~During the whole study period (10 weeks) each patient is not subjected to any focal treatments in the target upper limb.~In the study period, the contralateral limb is rehabilitated and evaluated according to usual practice."

"tDCS application is anodic, in the M1 area (Primary Motor Cortex) right or left, contralateral to the pre-defined target limb. The cathode is positioned in the supraorbital area, contralateral to the anode.~Sham stimulation is carried out through a dedicated program, which increases the current for several seconds up to the target intensity and then decreases it gradually in a few seconds, so that subjects experience the same itching and tingling experience as in active stimulation, but they do not receive any significant therapeutic currents.~Each tDCS session lasts 20 minutes. tDCS is administered simultaneously during the first 20 minutes of the usual upper limb rehabilitation physiotherapy, which will continue for a further 20 minutes.~During the whole study period (10 weeks) each patient is not subjected to any focal treatments in the target upper limb.~In the study period, the contralateral limb is rehabilitated and evaluated according to usual practice."