Combining transcranial direct current stimulation and peripheral electrical stimulation to improve upper limb function in a patient with acute central cord syndrome: a case report

This case report discusses a 70-year-old man with acute central cord syndrome (CCS) who experienced severe motor deficits in his left upper limb. The patient received combined treatment with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and peripheral electrical stimulation (PES), resulting in immediate improvement in his weakened muscles. After four sessions of combined tDCS and PES, the patient's left upper limb function significantly improved, leading to improved self-care activities like eating and changing clothes.

• 1
  The patient's performance score on the Box and Block test immediately improved from 0 to 6 after the first combined tDCS and PES session.
• 2
  After four sessions, the left upper limb function improved to 32 on the Box and Block test, and manual muscle test scores of the stimulated deltoid and wrist extensors improved from 1 to 2.
• 3
  The patient's improved upper limb function led to enhanced self-care activities such as eating and changing clothes, with the FIM score improving from 66 to 94.