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August 19, 2026BMC GeriatricsOpen Access

Effects of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation on muscle strength, proprioception, cutaneous sensitivity and their relationship with balance in older adults with a history of falls

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Authors

ZJZhilin Jiang WRWenqi Ran FZFenyan Zhou

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Overview

Randomized double-blind trial demonstrates improved balance and hip strength in older adults with fall history, indicating noninvasive brain stimulation enhances functional stability.

Key Points

To investigate the effects of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation on muscle strength, proprioception, cutaneous sensitivity, and balance in older adults with a history of falls.
Randomized, double-blind trial in 30 older adults with a history of falls assigned to active HD-tDCS (n = 15) or sham HD-tDCS (n = 15).
Intervention delivered 12 sessions over 4 weeks (3 times weekly) targeting the sensorimotor cortex with 2 mA continuous current for 20 minutes versus sham ramp-up/down controls.
Outcomes evaluated pre- and post-intervention included static balance (RMS ML), dynamic balance (DC scores), peak hip abduction torque, ankle inversion proprioception, and cutaneous sensitivity.
Significant group-by-time interactions occurred for RMS ML (p = 0.009, ηp² = 0.222), DC scores (p = 0.046, ηp² = 0.134), peak hip abduction torque (p = 0.007, ηp² = 0.231), and ankle inversion threshold (p = 0.038, ηp² = 0.144).
Active HD-tDCS significantly improved RMS ML (p = 0.034, d = 0.577), ankle inversion threshold (p = 0.010, d = 1.040), DC scores (p = 0.002, d = 0.863), and hip abduction torque (p = 0.008, d = 0.740) from baseline, while cutaneous sensitivity showed no change (p > 0.05).
In the active stimulation group, reductions in mediolateral sway negatively correlated with increases in peak hip abduction torque (r = -0.649, p = 0.009).

Cite This Study

Jiang et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8563fe03308d306e2d7720 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-08154-7

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August 19, 2026BMC GeriatricsOpen Access

Effects of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation on muscle strength, proprioception, cutaneous sensitivity and their relationship with balance in older adults with a history of falls

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

ZJZhilin Jiang WRWenqi Ran FZFenyan Zhou

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Randomized double-blind trial demonstrates improved balance and hip strength in older adults with fall history, indicating noninvasive brain stimulation enhances functional stability.

Key Points

To investigate the effects of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation on muscle strength, proprioception, cutaneous sensitivity, and balance in older adults with a history of falls.
Randomized, double-blind trial in 30 older adults with a history of falls assigned to active HD-tDCS (n = 15) or sham HD-tDCS (n = 15).
Intervention delivered 12 sessions over 4 weeks (3 times weekly) targeting the sensorimotor cortex with 2 mA continuous current for 20 minutes versus sham ramp-up/down controls.
Outcomes evaluated pre- and post-intervention included static balance (RMS ML), dynamic balance (DC scores), peak hip abduction torque, ankle inversion proprioception, and cutaneous sensitivity.
Significant group-by-time interactions occurred for RMS ML (p = 0.009, ηp² = 0.222), DC scores (p = 0.046, ηp² = 0.134), peak hip abduction torque (p = 0.007, ηp² = 0.231), and ankle inversion threshold (p = 0.038, ηp² = 0.144).
Active HD-tDCS significantly improved RMS ML (p = 0.034, d = 0.577), ankle inversion threshold (p = 0.010, d = 1.040), DC scores (p = 0.002, d = 0.863), and hip abduction torque (p = 0.008, d = 0.740) from baseline, while cutaneous sensitivity showed no change (p > 0.05).
In the active stimulation group, reductions in mediolateral sway negatively correlated with increases in peak hip abduction torque (r = -0.649, p = 0.009).

Cite This Study

Jiang et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8563fe03308d306e2d7720 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-08154-7

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