Remotely Supervised Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Post-Stroke Recovery: A Scoping Review

Medicina (Kaunas). 2025 Mar 29;61(4):627. doi: 10.3390/medicina61040627.

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Recent studies have suggested the feasibility and potential utility of remotely supervised transcranial direct current stimulation (RS-tDCS) to improve different types of impairments in various neurological conditions. This scoping review provides a critical appraisal of RS-tDCS as an adjunct therapy to enhance recovery after stroke. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature review was systematically conducted using PubMed through Nested Knowledge software. A supplementary search was conducted in Google Scholar. Two independent authors screened and identified related studies investigating RS-tDCS in patients with stroke from inception to February 2025. Results: Studies showed that RS-tDCS was safe, with only mild side effects. Additionally, it was feasible, with high adherence rates likely due to ease of use. Regarding efficacy, RS-tDCS preliminarily yielded improvements in upper- and lower-limb motor functions and increased language and cognitive performance. However, the studies were underpowered and heterogeneous, limiting generalization of findings. Conclusions: RS-tDCS is safe and feasible, affording beneficial effects in the motor, language, and cognitive functions of patients with post-stroke impairments. RS-tDCS has the potential to improve access and reduce disparities for post-stroke experimental treatments. However, adequately powered randomized trials are needed to further investigate the efficacy.

Keywords: RS-tDCS; stroke; tDCS.

Publication types

  • Scoping Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Recovery of Function
  • Stroke Rehabilitation* / methods
  • Stroke Rehabilitation* / standards
  • Stroke* / complications
  • Stroke* / therapy
  • Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation* / methods
  • Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation* / standards