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Missé RG, dos Santos AM, Borges IBP, Simões MSM, Silvério LR, Correia BL, Kim AWS, Caetano AM, Pasoto SG, Saad CGS, Domiciano DS, Tanaka C, Greve JMD, Baptista AF, Shinjo SK. Transcranial direct current electrical stimulation in combination with aerobic exercise: A pilot study in post-COVID-19 systemic autoimmune rheumatic patients. World J Rheumatol 2023; 11:1-12. [DOI: 10.5499/wjr.v11.i1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) are a group of diseases with multiorgan involvement and a high prevalence of chronic pain and fatigue. Patients with SARDs and post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome experience aggravation of symptoms. In this context, it is essential to establish strategies to reduce chronic pain and fatigue and improve quality of life.
AIM To assess the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for the treatment of fatigue and pain-associated post-COVID-19 syndrome in patients with SARDs.
METHODS This study included nine patients with different types of SARDs. All patients had reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test confirmed COVID-19 as well as significant, persistent fatigue and pain that began to worsen after infection. Anodal tDCS was administered in five daily sessions (2mA, 20 min). Concomitantly, patients were involved in aerobic exercise program. All participants were evaluated using specific questionnaires and strength assessment by handgrip and physical function by timed-up-and-go test and sit-to-stand test at baseline (within one week before tDCS protocol), and one week after tDCS protocol. During all procedures, the patients’ treatments remained unchanged.
RESULTS The sample comprised eight women and one man with a mean age of 48.7 ± 9.6 years. After the tDCS protocol, pain and fatigue significantly improved on the visual analog scale (P < 0.05). The physical function also improved 9.5 ± 2.7 vs 6.8 ± 0.8 (P = 0.001) for timed-up-go-test and 10.3 ± 3.7 vs 15.1 ± 4.0 (P = 0.037) for sit-to-stand test. None of the patients experienced any adverse events.
CONCLUSION The present study showed that tDCS in combination with aerobic exercise was effective in improving physical function, and reducing fatigue/pain in SARDs patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Giovani Missé
- Division of Rheumatology, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Moura dos Santos
- Division of Rheumatology, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Isabela Bruna Pires Borges
- Division of Rheumatology, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marlise Sítima Mendes Simões
- Division of Rheumatology, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lorenza Rosa Silvério
- Division of Rheumatology, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruna Lindoso Correia
- Division of Rheumatology, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Wook Sook Kim
- Division of Rheumatology, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aline Marques Caetano
- Division of Rheumatology, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sandra Gofinet Pasoto
- Division of Rheumatology, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carla Gonçalves Schahin Saad
- Division of Rheumatology, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Diogo Souza Domiciano
- Division of Rheumatology, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Clarice Tanaka
- Departamento de Fisioterapia, Fonoaudiologia e Terapia Ocupacional, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Núcleo de Assistência e Pesquisa em Neuromodulação, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julia Maria D’Andrea Greve
- Laboratório de Estudos do Movimento, Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Samuel Katsuyuki Shinjo
- Division of Rheumatology, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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