The Effect of Unilateral and Bilateral Electrical Stimulation of the Brain on Improving the Balance of the Elderly

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of unilateral and bilateral electrical stimulation of the brain on balance in the elderly. Methods & Materials: Thirty-six elderly in Ilam City, Iran, participated in the study. In the pretest, the static balance was taken, and then the participants were randomly divided into three groups: unilateral brain stimulation, bilateral brain stimulation, and sham. The intervention took in 3 sessions. In the unilateral stimulation group, the anode electrode was positioned at the O point, and the cathode was above the left ophthalmic cavity (FP1). In the bilateral stimulation group, the anode electrode was positioned at O1, and the cathode was positioned at O2. The intensity of stimulation was 2 mA, and the duration of treatment was 15 minutes per session. In the control group, the anode and cathode electrodes were placed on the O and FP1 points, respectively, but the excitation current was stopped after 30 seconds. After the last training session, the posttest was performed. The obtained data were analyzed using 1-way ANOVA. Results: The Results showed no statistically significant difference between the three groups in the pretest phase (P<0.535). But at posttest, there was a difference between groups (P<0.002). Post-hoc test Results showed a difference between unilateral stimulation with the control group (P=0.001) and bilateral stimulation with the control group (P=0.005). But there was no significant difference between the unilateral stimulation group and the bilateral stimulation group (P=0.599). Conclusion: Unilaterally and bilaterally, cerebellar stimulation can be improved in the elderly.

Keywords

• transcranial direct current stimulation
• cerebellum
• balance
• elderly