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July 5, 2025Journal of NeuroEngineering and RehabilitationOpen Access

The impacts of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with aquatic neuromuscular training on pain, function, kinesiophobia, knee instability, and quality of life in knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind randomized trial

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Authors

AKAsma Tapeh KaboodiFGFarzaneh GandomiPSParviz Soufivand

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Overview

Randomized double-blind trial reveals improved function and joint stability with brain stimulation added to aquatic training in knee osteoarthritis, suggesting enhanced physical rehabilitation.

Key Points

  • To evaluate the efficacy of adding anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to aquatic neuromuscular training (ANMT) on pain, function, knee instability, kinesiophobia, and quality of life in women with knee osteoarthritis.
  • Double-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial involving 44 women with knee osteoarthritis randomly assigned to ANMT plus real tDCS targeting M1 (n = 22) or ANMT plus placebo stimulation (n = 22).
  • Interventions comprised 18 sessions across six weeks, with each session consisting of 20 minutes of stimulation followed by 60 minutes of aquatic training.
  • Outcomes included pain assessed weekly and post-intervention, alongside knee instability, functional performance (WOMAC), kinesiophobia (Tampa scale), and quality of life (OAKHQOL) analyzed via mixed repeated measures ANOVA and ANCOVA.
  • Real tDCS showed a significant immediate reduction in pain intensity compared to placebo (p < 0.001, η²p = 0.35), but between-group pain differences were not sustained at six weeks (p = 0.36, η²p = 0.02).
  • Statistically significant improvements favoring the real tDCS group emerged at six weeks for functional performance (p = 0.03, η²p = 0.10) and knee instability (p = 0.04, η²p = 0.10).
  • No significant between-group differences were observed for kinesiophobia or overall quality of life scores (p > 0.05).

Cite This Study

Kaboodi et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a89211bd5f4e697bb1325bfhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-025-01670-4
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Also Consider

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

  1. 1The effects of aquatic therapy combined with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on proprioception and gait speed in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: an eight-week randomized sham-controlled trial2025
  2. 2Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with physical exercise in knee osteoarthritis: a protocol for a randomised controlled clinical trial2025
  3. 3Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Individualized Physical Therapy on Pain and Function in Individuals With Chronic Knee Pain: A Pilot Study2026
  4. 4Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis2026
  5. 5The Efficacy of the Addition of tDCS and TENS to an Education and Exercise Program in Subjects with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial2024 · 3 citations