Condition

Post-stroke rehabilitation

In post-stroke rehabilitation, the evidence is domain-specific. There is no established motor efficacy, but recent meta-analyses suggest adjuvant benefit in specific domains — naming in aphasia and dysphagia.

What the evidence supports

For motor function, results are limited and inconsistent. In specific domains, recent meta-analyses point to benefit when tDCS is used as an adjuvant to rehabilitation conducted by professionals.

Motor function: meta-analyses found no significant effect — only changes in corticomotor excitability; many controlled trials reported active = sham. There is no established motor efficacy.
Aphasia: network meta-analysis (Elsner 2020; 25 studies, 471 patients) — anodal tDCS (left inferior frontal gyrus) improved naming (SMD 0.51; 95% CI 0.11–0.90), but NOT global functional communication.
Dysphagia: meta-analysis (He 2022; 15 studies, 787 patients) — positive effect on post-stroke dysphagia; safety evidence is still considered insufficient.

In numbers

Post-stroke rehabilitation

motor

no established motor efficacy (mixed results)

aphasia

naming gain · SMD 0.51 (Elsner 2020)

dysphagia

positive effect · 787 patients (He 2022)

Strength and limits of the evidence

For motor function there is no formal evidence grade and there are numerous null results — established motor recovery should not be claimed. The most consistent benefit, still adjuvant and domain-specific, appears in naming (aphasia; without improvement in global functional communication) and in dysphagia. tDCS is frequently combined with physiotherapy and speech therapy, which makes its specific effect hard to isolate.

Typical montage and dose

Typical montage: anode over ipsilesional M1 (C3/C4) and/or contralesional cathode; 0.5–2 mA, often combined with physiotherapy.

Safety

Mild and transient effects (slight itching, headache), per the literature's aggregate safety profile.

Sources

Lindenberg R, et al. 2010 (cited in the Newronika dossier).
Elsner B, Kugler J, Mehrholz J. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2020;17:88.
He K, et al. J Clin Med. 2022;11(8):2297.
Lefaucheur J-P. Neurophysiol Clin. 2016;46(4–5):319–398.

Informational, non-promissory content. tDCS is a complementary therapy under professional supervision; results vary between individuals.

Other conditions

Depression

Stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for depressive symptoms, as an evidence-based complementary therapy.

Chronic pain & Fibromyalgia

Modulating pain networks to reduce intensity and improve quality of life.

How the treatment works See all the evidence

Assess your case with a specialist

tDCS indication is individual and must be made by a healthcare professional. Request a no-commitment quote.