Summary statistics for the 21 comparisons in this meta-analysis
| Study | Retention period | Outcome measure | Rx/Ctrl (N) | ES=SMD | 95% CI | Relative weight | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolognini et al18 | 4 weeks | Total latency score in JHFT (atDCS on iH+ctDCS on cH during CIMT at retention: Rx vs atDCS on iH+ctDCS on cH during CIMT at retention: Ctrl) | 7/7 | 0.16 | −0.89 | 1.21 | 2.98 | |
| Celnik et al19 | 6 days | Mean improvements of correct key press (PNS+atDCS on iH before motor practise at retention: Rx vs PNS+sham before motor practise at retention: Ctrl) | 9/9 | 0.18 | −0.48 | 0.84 | 6.28 | |
| Di Lazzaro et al25 | 12 weeks | NIHSS (atDCS on iH+ctDCS on cH during CIMT at retention: Rx vs sham during CIMT at retention: Ctrl) | 10/10 | 0.36 | −0.52 | 1.24 | 3.99 | |
| Fusco et al20 | 4 weeks | Filling speed in 9HPT (ctDCS on cH before inpatient daily rehabilitation at retention: Rx vs sham before inpatient daily rehabilitation at retention: Ctrl) | 5/6 | 0.08 | −1.11 | 1.27 | 2.40 | |
| Geroin et al21 | 2 weeks | Six-minute walking test (m) (atDCS on iH during robot-assisted gait training at retention: Rx vs sham during robot-assisted gait training at retention: Ctrl) | 10/10 | 0.38 | −0.50 | 1.27 | 3.98 | |
| Hesse et al22 | 12 weeks | FMA (atDCS on iH during bilateral arm robot training at retention: Rx vs sham during bilateral arm robot training at retention: Ctrl) | 28/28 | 0.04 | −0.48 | 0.56 | 8.53 | |
| FMA (ctDCS on cH during bilateral arm robot training at retention: Rx vs sham during bilateral arm robot training at retention: Ctrl) | 29/28 | 0.06 | −0.46 | 0.58 | 8.62 | |||
| Khedr et al23 | 12 weeks | NIHSS (atDCS on iH before motor training at retention: Rx vs sham before motor training at retention: Ctrl) | 14/13 | 1.59 | 0.73 | 2.46 | 4.12 | |
| NIHSS (ctDCS on cH before motor training at retention: Rx vs sham before motor training at retention: Ctrl) | 13/13 | 1.08 | 0.26 | 1.90 | 4.47 | |||
| Kim et al24 | 24 weeks | FMA (atDCS on iH during OT at retention: Rx vs sham during OT at retention: Ctrl) | 6/7 | 1.05 | −0.11 | 2.21 | 2.49 | |
| FMA (ctDCS on cH during OT at retention: Rx vs sham during OT at retention: Ctrl) | 5/7 | 1.39 | 0.11 | 2.66 | 2.11 | |||
| Lefebvre et al26 | 1 week | Learning index in motor skill learning task (atDCS on iH+ctDCS on cH during motor skill learning task at retention: Rx vs baseline: Ctrl) | 18/18 | 0.93 | 0.38 | 1.49 | 7.95 | |
| Lefebvre et al27 | 1 week | Learning index in motor skill learning task (atDCS on iH+ctDCS on cH during motor skill learning task at retention: Rx vs baseline: Ctrl) | 19/19 | 0.82 | 0.30 | 1.34 | 8.62 | |
| Lindenberg et al28 | 1 week | FMA (atDCS on iH+ctDCS on cH during PT+OT at retention: Rx vs sham during PT+OT at retention: Ctrl) | 10/10 | 0.29 | −0.59 | 1.17 | 4.00 | |
| Mortensen et al33 | 1 week | Score in JHFT (atDCS on iH during OT at retention: Rx vs sham during OT at retention: Ctrl) | 8/7 | 0.61 | −0.43 | 1.65 | 3.04 | |
| Nair et al29 | 1 week | 3J-ROM (ctDCS on cH during OT at retention: Rx vs sham during OT at retention: Ctrl) | 7/7 | 1.43 | 0.25 | 2.60 | 2.45 | |
| Rocha et al34 | 4 weeks | FMA (atDCS on iH before mCIMT at retention: Rx vs sham before mCIMT at retention: Ctrl) | 7/7 | 0.94 | −0.17 | 2.04 | 2.73 | |
| FMA (ctDCS on cH before mCIMT at retention: Rx vs sham before mCIMT at retention: Ctrl) | 7/7 | 0.24 | −0.81 | 1.29 | 2.97 | |||
| Sattler et al32 | 4 weeks | Time in JHFT (rPNS+atDCS on iH before OT at retention: Rx vs rPNS+sham before OT at retention: Ctrl) | 10/10 | 0.65 | −0.25 | 1.55 | 3.87 | |
| Wu et al30 | 4 weeks | MAS: elbow (ctDCS on iH before PT at retention: Rx vs sham before PT at retention: Ctrl) | 45/45 | 0.72 | 0.29 | 1.14 | 10.78 | |
| Zimerman et al31 | 12 weeks | Number of correct sequence (ctDCS on cH during motor sequence task at retention: Rx vs sham during motor sequence task at retention: Ctrl) | 5/5 | 0.53 | −0.40 | 1.47 | 3.62 | |
| Model | Overall weighted ES | SE | Confidence level (95%) | Q Statistic | I2 | T2 | Classic fail-safe N | |
| Random | 0.59 | 0.10 | 0.40 to 0.79 | 25.89 | 22.75 | 0.04 | 240 | |
atDCS, anodal transcranial direct current stimulation; cH, contralesional hemisphere; CIMT, constraint-induced movement therapy; ctDCS, cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation; Ctrl, control; ES, effect size; FMA, Fugl-Myer Assessment; iH, ipsilesional hemisphere; JHFT, Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test; MAS, modified Ashworth scale; mCIMT, modified constraint-induced movement therapy; NIHSS, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; OT, occupational therapy; PNS, peripheral nerve stimulation; PT, physical therapy; rPNS, repetitive peripheral nerve stimulation; Rx, treatment group; SMD, standardised mean differences; 3J-ROM, range of motion for wrist extension, elbow extension and shoulder abduction; 9HPT, the Nine Hole Peg Test.