Does Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation reduce central and peripheral muscle fatigue in recreational runners? A triple-blind, sham-controlled, randomized, crossover clinical study

• Published in: Revista brasileira de fisioterapia (São Carlos (São Paulo, Brazil)) Vol. 28; no. 4; p. 101088
• Main Authors: Uehara, Laura, Coelho, Daniel Boari, Baptista, Abrahão Fontes, Santana, Lucas, Moreira, Rafael Jardim Duarte, Zana, Yossi, Malosá, Luciana, Lima, Taiane, Valentim, Gabriela, Cardenas-Rojas, Alejandra, Fregni, Felipe, Corrêa, João Carlos Ferrari, Corrêa, Fernanda Ishida
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Elsevier España, S.L.U 01-07-2024; Associação Brasileira de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Fisioterapia
• Subjects: Cross-Over Studies; Evoked Potentials, Motor - physiology; Exercise; Fatigue; Humans; Lactic Acid - blood; Muscle Fatigue - physiology; Original Research; Physical therapy; Rehabilitation; Running; Running - physiology; Torque; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation - methods; Running; Fatigue; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; Exercise; Rehabilitation; Physical therapy
• ISSN: 1413-3555; 1809-9246; 1809-9246
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2024.101088

•Fatigue can be a limiting factor for runners.•Fatigue is any reduction in the capacity to produce maximum muscle strength.•Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation has been studied in sports.•One Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation session does not decrease fatigue in recreational runners.
Runners seek health benefits and performance improvement. However, fatigue might be considered a limiting factor. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has been investigated to improve performance and reduce fatigue in athletes. While some studies showing that tDCS may improve a variety of physical measures, other studies failed to show any benefit.
To evaluate the acute effects of tDCS on central and peripheral fatigue compared to a sham intervention in recreational runners.
This is a triple-blind, controlled, crossover study of 30 recreational runners who were randomized to receive one of the two interventions, anodal or sham tDCS, after the fatigue protocol. The interventions were applied to the quadriceps muscle hotspot for 20 min. Peak torque, motor-evoked potential, and perceived exertion rate were assessed before and after the interventions, and blood lactate level was assessed before, during, and after the interventions. A generalized estimated equation was used to analyze the peak torque, motor-evoked potential, and blood lactate data, and the Wilcoxon test was used for perceived exertion rate data.
Our findings showed no difference between anodal tDCS and sham tDCS on peak torque, motor-evoked potential, blood lactate, and perceived exertion rate.
The tDCS protocol was not effective in improving performance and reducing fatigue compared to a sham control intervention.
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