Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41368652›Full record

Trial reportNeural plasticity2025

Effect of tDCS Concurrent With VR-Based Robotic Intervention on Hemiplegic Upper Limb Function After Subacute Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Chuan Guo, Ayan Geng, Youxin Sui, Shizhe Zhu, Qinglei Wang, Chaojie Kan, Sheng Xu, Ren Zhuang, Tong Wang, Ying Shen

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Neural plasticity, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Chuan GuoDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital With Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.ORCID 0000-0001-9181-4293
Ayan GengDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital With Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.ORCID 0009-0000-1810-4930
Youxin SuiDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.ORCID 0000-0002-5010-0320
Shizhe ZhuDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital With Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.ORCID 0000-0002-5460-8818
Qinglei WangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital With Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.ORCID 0009-0003-0021-0171
Chaojie KanSchool of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.ORCID 0009-0002-9961-6253
Sheng XuDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Changzhou Dean Hospital, Changzhou, China.ORCID 0009-0000-1607-5742
Ren ZhuangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Changzhou Dean Hospital, Changzhou, China.ORCID 0009-0004-0808-5464
Tong WangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital With Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.ORCID 0000-0001-6516-4397
Ying ShenDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital With Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.ORCID 0000-0001-8308-9562

Funding

Competitive Project of Jiangsu Province’s Key Research and Development ProgramKey Medical Discipline Project of Jiangsu ProvinceKey Project of Jiangsu Province’s Key Research and Development ProgramNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaOpen bidding for selecting the best candidates” project
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Upper limb hemiplegia faces the challenge of slow and difficult recovery. A "closed-loop method" based on brain plasticity has been proposed, combining central and peripheral interventions to enhance the upper limb function. Based on the theory, we aimed to investigate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) concurrent with virtual reality (VR)-based robotic intervention on upper limb recovery and cortical excitability. Methods: In this single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial, 40 patients with subacute ischemic stroke were recruited and randomized to experimental (tDCS concurrent with VR-based robotic intervention) and control (sham tDCS concurrent with VR-based robotic intervention) groups. All patients received 15 sessions (20 min per day, 5 sessions per week). Outcome measures included the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Limb Scale (FMA-UL), the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Results: All 40 patients completed the intervention, with 34 included in the fNIRS analysis. FMA-UL ( Conclusions: Compared with sham tDCS concurrent with VR-based robotic intervention, tDCS concurrent with VR-based robotic intervention can effectively enhance upper limb function and promote activation of ipsilesional M1 and contralesional PFC in subacute ischemic patients with stroke. However, there was no obvious advantage in improving activities of daily life (ADL).

Indexed as

HemiplegiaIschemic StrokeRoboticsStroke RehabilitationTranscranial Direct Current StimulationUpper ExtremityVirtual RealityAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRecovery of FunctionSingle-Blind MethodTreatment Outcomefunctional near-infrared spectroscopysubacute ischemic stroketranscranial direct current stimulationupper limb robotvirtual reality

Identifiers

PMID41368652
PMCPMC12685433

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.