Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with progressive rehabilitation intervention on patients with Parkinson's disease

Yu Yaning; Song Hongmin; Xin Hui; Dou Lihui; Lu Ping; Hou Ruifang; Li Peng

doi:10.11986/j.issn.1673-873X.2025.09.16

Abstract：Objective To analyze the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS)combined with progressive re-habilitation intervention on motor function,cognitive function,gait,and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease(PD),and to provide a reference for clinical decision-making.Methods A total of 202 PD patients treated at Xingtai Central Hospital from January 2019 to January 2024 were randomly assigned to a research group and a control group,with 101 pa-tients in each.The control group received tDCS combined with conventional intervention,and the research group received tDCS combined with progressive rehabilitation intervention;both groups were treated for 3 months.Cognitive function(Montreal Cognitive Assessment[MoCA]),motor function([Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Ⅲ(UPDRS-Ⅲ]),gait(gait speed,cadence,step width),mobility(timed up-and-go test[TUGT]-time,TUGT-number of freezing epi-sodes),and quality of life(Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39[PDQ-39])were compared before and after intervention.Results Before intervention,there were no significant differences between the two groups in MoCA or UPDRS-Ⅲ scores(P＞0.05).After 3 months of intervention,MoCA scores increased in both groups and were significantly higher in the re-search group than in the control group(P＜0.05);UPDRS-Ⅲ scores decreased in both groups and were significantly lower in the research group than in the control group(P＜0.05).Before intervention,there were no significant differences be-tween the two groups in gait speed,cadence,or step width(P＞0.05).After 3 months,gait speed,cadence,and step width increased in both groups and were significantly greater in the research group than in the control group(P＜0.05).Be-fore intervention,there were no significant differences between the two groups in TUGT-Ⅲ time or TUGT-Ⅲ number of freezing episodes(P＞0.05).After 3 months,TUGT-time was shortened in both groups and was significantly shorter in the research group than in the control group(P＜0.05);TUGT-number of freezing episodes decreased in both groups and were significantly fewer in the research group than in the control group(P＜0.05).Before intervention,there were no sig-nificant differences between the two groups in the eight-dimension scores(physical activity,activities of daily living,emo-tional well-being,stigma,social support,cognition,communication,bodily discomfort)of PDQ-39(P＞0.05).After 3 months,scores of these eight dimensions of PDQ-39 decreased in both groups and were significantly lower in the research group than in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion tDCS combined with progressive rehabilitation intervention yields marked benefits for PD patients,promoting motor and cognitive function,enhancing gait,and raising quality of life,which merits clinical promotion and application.