Rapid communicationTranscranial direct current stimulation on the autonomic modulation and exercise time in individuals with spinal cord injury. A case report

- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) improve exercise capacity in people with complete chronic spinal cord injury.
- tCDS may help individuals with complete, low thoracic, spinal cord injury.
- Prolonged vagal activation and improved glucose utilization may occur during the exercise with tDCS.

PurposeTo report the effect of the transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the primary motor cortex (M1) of an individual, a sedentary male subject with complete chronic spinal cord injury at the T11-T12 levels.MethodsThe individual underwent three experimental sessions: control, sham and anodal tDCS. Before, during and after exercise sessions, the following variables were recorded: heart rate variability, Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), power and glucose (this one only before and after the exercise).ResultsThe anodal tDCS provided greater exercise time and power, lower perceived exertion, greater reduction in glucose, and an increase in time to reach the threshold of heart rate variability.ConclusionstDCS caused an improvement in the exercise tolerance, probably due to the modulation of the autonomic nervous system and the pain, characterized by reduced RPE.