Effect of ctDCS During Balance Training on Cerebellar Ataxia

Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Balance; Cerebellum; Injury; Cerebellar Ataxia

Treatments: Device: Sham cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation; Other: Balance training; Device: cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04039048

cerebellarataxia_balance_ctDCS

Details and patient eligibility

About

Cerebellar ataxia is a neurologic symptom caused by damage or dysfunction in the cerebellum and its pathways that results in loss of coordination, balance and postural control. There is a high rate (93%) of fallings for this population that could limit daily life activities. Pharmacological interventions are not able to modify the balance, therefore, new approaches to rehabilitate must be studied. ctDCS is a non-invasive brain stimulation that seems to be a new and innovator technique to restore ataxia symptoms. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of ctDCS associated with balance training on cerebellar ataxia patients. A counterbalanced crossover, sham-controlled, triple blind trial will be performed. All subjects will receive the real and sham ctDCS associated to balance training. The anodal ctDCS (2 mA, 20 minutes) or sham (2mA, 30 seconds) will be applied during balance training at Biodex Balance System (BBS). The balance will be the primary outcome and will be evaluated through Posture Control at Biodex Balance System. Ataxia' severity and functional mobility will be the secondary outcomes and will be evaluated by the scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA) and 10 meters walking test, respectively.

Enrollment: 10 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Cerebellar ataxia
• Score > 1 ≤ 4 on posture of Scale for assessment and rating of ataxia

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals with other neurological disorders, postural hypotension, vestibular, visual, cardiovascular or musculoskeletal disorders that affect the performance of the proposed tests;
• Pacemaker;
• History of seizures;
• Metallic implants in the head or neck;
• Medication change (3 months) during the period of study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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10 participants in 2 patient groups

ctDCS during Balance training

Experimental group

Treatment:

Device: cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation

Other: Balance training

ctDCS sham during Balance training

Sham Comparator group

Treatment:

Other: Balance training

Device: Sham cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation