File
Akremi H.1, Lepage J.-F.2, Dupont-Gauthier M.2, Fournier F.2, Lapierre-Fortin M.2, Laroche A.2, Turcotte M.2, Corriveau H.2, Camden C.2
1Université de Sherbrooke, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Shebrooke, Canada, 2Université de Sherbrooke, Shebrooke, Canada
Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a safe and non-invasive neuromodulation technique that is of increasing interest for physiotherapists (PTs). Among others, recent evidences show that low electric anodal tDCS is safe for children with neurodevelopmental disorders and has positive effects on motor learning. While tDCS has been used with children, no studies have yet documented the feasibility of using tDCS for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD is a condition affecting motor learning and coordination). DCD is frequently associated with learning difficulties and attention deficit disorder. Recent neuroimaging studies suggest that the chronic motor learning and coordination difficulties experienced by children with DCD might be due to reduced activity in the cerebellum. tDCS might be of particular interest for children with DCD given its ability to increase cerebellum activity.
Purpose: The study's aim is to assess the feasibility and side effects of tDCS with children with DCD.
Methods: This study is part of a pilot double-blind, randomized, control trial study exploring the impact of tDCS on motor learning and motor coordination for children with DCD. The intervention consists of three stimulation sessions administered every other day and one follow up session one week after the last stimulation session. During the stimulation session, children had to realize a fingers tapping task. One group received active tDCS on the cerebellum area (2 mA, 20 minutes); the other group received sham stimulation. Side effects are investigated with a questionnaire containing 10 items completed by participant after each stimulation session. The perception of the intervention is assessed with a questionnaire completing during the follow up session. Data have been collected for four children
(10-16 years-old) out of the 24 that will be involved in this study.
Results: Preliminary results show no serious adverse event in the 12 sessions. tDCS appears to be safe and well tolerated by children with DCD. tDCS seems feasible for children with DCD, but great behavioural variations were observed among children while realizing the fingers tapping task, which might affect the tDCS impact. The concentration on the fingers tapping task is one of the issues identified, particularly for children with attention deficit disorder.
Conclusion(s): Children with DCD appear to tolerate well the stimulation. Data collection on more participants will allow exploring the side effects of tDCS on children with DCD. Recruitment has been challenging thus far, probably highlighting childrens and parents needs to be reassured with the safety of the intervention.
Implications: TDCS appears to be safe and well tolerated. These data, combined with the upcoming data on the effects of TDCs on motor learning and coordination, will help us determine if this technique could be used as a safe tool to increase cortical excitability for children with DCD. Whether or not if tDCS could eventually be an interesting non-invasive treatment for children with DCD requires more investigations.
Funding acknowledgements: University of Sherbrooke Startup funds from Jean-François Lepage and Chantal Camden.
Topic: Disability & rehabilitation
Ethics approval: This research study is approved by the ethics committee of the research on the human being, in Sherbrooke.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
