A Comparative Study on the effect of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Light Therapy (tLT) on the balance status of older adults: randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Introduction: Falling is one of the most common problems of the older adults. Falling and loss of mobility and balance lead to limited mobility, fractures of various organs, especially the pelvic bones in the older adults. New methods of neurological rehabilitation and neuroscience, such as transcrinial light therapy and transcrinial direct current stimulation, use direct physical interventions on the skull to induce physiological changes in the function of brain neurons and have effects on the target areas. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the two types of transcranial interventions, transcrinial light therapy and transcrinial direct current stimulation on the balance status of the older adults. Methods and materials: This study is a single-blind pre-post randomized experimental design clinical study that was performed to investigate the comparative effect of transcranial light therapy interventions and transcranial direct current stimulation on the balance status of the older adults in 75 patients. The subjects were randomly assigned to three groups: 1. Direct current intervention (tDCS) 2. tLT intervention and 3. sham group. Depending on the group in which they are placed, they are subjected to intervention by tLT or direct current (tDCS) or in the sham group for 5 consecutive sessions in 5 days. Single lege stance test (SLS), time up and go test (TUG) and attention test (PGN) were performed before and after the interventions, and the results were recorded. SPSS software version 27 was used to analyze the collected data. Results: If we pay attention to the results of ANCOVA, it can be seen that by adjusting for the pre-test mode (Baseline), the mean static balance index of the two intervention methods and the sham group have shown the same effectiveness in increasing the mean static balance index of the elderly. If we pay attention to the results of ANCOVA, it can be seen that by adjusting for the pre-test mode (Baseline), the mean dynamic balance index after the intervention by the tDCS method and the sham group did not differ significantly from before the intervention, but after the intervention. The tLT method significantly reduced the mean of the dynamic equilibrium index compared to before the intervention, so the average of this decrease was reported to be 5.54 units. In other words, the intervention under the tLT intervention method showed significant effectiveness in reducing the mean of dynamic balance index in the elderly, while the effectiveness of the intervention by the tDCS method and sham group on dynamic balance in the elderly was not significant. If we pay attention to the results of ANCOVA, it can be seen that by adjusting for the pre-test mode (baseline), the mean performance index after the intervention by the tDCS method and sham group did not differ significantly from before the intervention, but after the intervention. The tLT method significantly increased the mean of the attention performance index compared to before the intervention, so the average of this increase was reported to be 2.99 units. In other words, the intervention under the tLT intervention method showed significant effectiveness in increasing the mean of the performance index of the elderly, while the effectiveness of the intervention by the tDCS method and sham group on the attention function of the elderly was not significant. Conclusions: Using tLT for 5 consecutive sessions can improve balance function and attention function in the elderly, and this method can be used as an effective intervention to improve functional capacity and prevent loss of motor and cognitive function in the elderly. It is suggested that in future studies, these laboratory evaluations be used to more closely examine changes in brain function and motor function in the elderly.