Effect of a single session of transcranial direct current stimulation associated with gait on static balance of children with cerebral palsy: double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial

• Grant number: 13/12475-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2013
• End date: November 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Claudia Santos Oliveira
• Grantee: Fernanda Lobo Rezende
• Host Institution: Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE). Campus Vergueiro. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: to investigate the effects of a single session of transcranial direct current stimulation in the primary motor cortex, associated with gait training on static balance in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Materials and Methods: the sample population that will be part of this project will consist of 20 children with CP between four and 12 years old. Children will be randomly allocated into two groups (control group: gait training on the treadmill with transcranial stimulation placebo; Experimental group: gait training on the treadmill with transcranial stimulation activates) and evaluated immediately after the intervention. The evaluation will consist of quantification of static equilibrium by stabilometric assessment, performed on a Kistler force platform model 9286BA. The treadmill gait training associated with the use of transcranial stimulation will be performed in a day, lasting 20 minutes. The transcranial stimulation will be performed in the primary motor cortex during a training session with an intensity of 1 mA. The results will be statistically analyzed assuming a significance level of p d 0.05. (AU)