Synapse
⌘+K
Synapse
PulseExploreClubsResearchersJournals
Instagram
HomeClubsExplore
March 26, 2026PM&R

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

View Full Paper
Ask AI
Bookmark
Share

Authors

NMNoemí Moreno‐SeguraSMSara Mollà‐CasanovaUniversitat de ValènciaEMElena Muñoz‐GómezUniversitat de València

Discussion

Loading...

Member takes

Implication

Systematic review and meta-analysis show TDCS reduces pain and improves function in knee osteoarthritis, indicating its potential benefits.

Key Points

  • This review aims to evaluate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on pain and function in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.
  • Conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
  • Searched multiple databases and assessed risk of bias and quality of evidence.
  • Compared outcomes between active TDCS and sham TDCS groups.
  • Measured pain using visual analogue scale, numerical rating scale, and pain pressure threshold.
  • Active TDCS significantly reduced self-reported pain intensity (Cohen's d = −1.05).
  • Improvement in pain pressure threshold was also noted (Cohen's d = −0.77).
  • Function showed a small but significant improvement with active TDCS (Cohen's d = −0.29).
  • No difference in conditioned pain measure was found between interventions.

Cite This Study

Moreno‐Segura et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69c4cd49fdc3bde448919677https://doi.org/10.1002/pmrj.70104
View Full Paper
Ask AI
Bookmark
Share

Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Maximising neuromuscular performance in people with pain and injury: moving beyond reps and sets to understand the challenges and embrace the complexity2024 · 12 citations
  2. 2The effects of anodal tDCS on pain reduction in people with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis2023 · 26 citations
  3. 3Knee Osteoarthritis: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Mesenchymal Stem Cells: What Else Is New? An Update2023 · 392 citations
  4. 4Correlates of Nocturia and Relationships of Nocturia With Sleep Quality and Glycemic Control in Women With Type 2 Diabetes2017 · 26 citations
  5. 5Self-administered transcranial direct current stimulation treatment of knee osteoarthritis alters pain-related fNIRS connectivity networks2023 · 13 citations