Back to Search
Start Over
Effect of Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Motor Cortex on Elbow Flexor Muscle Strength in the Very Old.
- Source :
- Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy; Oct-Dec2019, Vol. 42 Issue 4, p243-248, 6p
- Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Background and Purpose: Muscle weakness predisposes older adults to a fourfold increase in functional limitations and has previously been associated with reduced motor cortex excitability in aging adults. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a single session of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the motor cortex would increase elbow flexion muscle strength and electromyographic (EMG) amplitude in very old individuals. Methods: Eleven very old individuals-85.8 (4.3) years-performed 3 maximal isometric elbow flexion contractions before and after 20 minutes of sham or anodal tDCS on different days. Order of stimulation was randomized, and the study participants and investigators were blinded to condition. In addition, voluntary activation capacity of the elbow flexors was determined by comparing voluntary and electrically evoked forces. Results: Anodal tDCS did not alter muscle strength or EMG activity in comparison to sham stimulation. Elbow flexion voluntary activation capacity was very high among the study participants: 99.3% (1.8%). Conclusion: Contrary to our hypothesis, we observed no effect of anodal tDCS and no impairment in elbow flexor voluntary activation capacity in the very old. Whether anodal tDCS would exert a positive effect and support our initial hypothesis in another muscle group that does exhibit impairments in voluntary activation in older adults is a question that is still to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- ELBOW physiology
ANALYSIS of variance
COMPARATIVE studies
ELECTROMYOGRAPHY
NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL tests
MUSCLE contraction
MUSCLE strength
STATISTICAL sampling
BODY movement
RANDOMIZED controlled trials
PRE-tests & post-tests
INDEPENDENT living
REPEATED measures design
SARCOPENIA
DATA analysis software
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
TRANSCRANIAL direct current stimulation
OLD age
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15398412
- Volume :
- 42
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Supplemental Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 144208033
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1519/JPT.0000000000000145