Effects of Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Muscle Inhibition After ACL Reconstruction

ConditionACL Reconstruction

Trial statusNot yet recruiting

Trial phaseNot applicable

Trial typeInterventional

Biological sexAll

Age15-45

SponsorUniversity of Lahore

About this trial

This randomized controlled trial will investigate the effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on arthrogenic muscle inhibition in athletes following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Participants will be allocated into two groups: a control group receiving standard physical therapy and an experimental group receiving standard physical therapy combined with anodal tDCS over the primary motor cortex (M1). The tDCS intervention will be delivered at 2 mA for 20 minutes, three times per week for four weeks, immediately before supervised physiotherapy. The study will assess quadriceps muscle strength, arthrogenic muscle inhibition, neuromuscular control, and subjective knee function at baseline, four weeks, and eight weeks. The study aims to determine whether adding anodal tDCS to standard rehabilitation improves outcomes following ACL reconstruction.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Participants with unilateral primary ACL reconstruction. ACL reconstruction performed using hamstring autograft (semitendinosus ± gracilis).

Disqualifiers

Contraindications to rehabilitation, such as wounds or infections. Lower-extremity venous thrombosis. Serious cognitive impairment or inability to cooperate. Severe cardiac insufficiency, renal failure, or other diseases contraindicating exercise.

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
Device
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) will be administered using a CE/FDA-approved constant-current tDCS device. Stimulation will be delivered at 2 mA for 20 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week, immediately before supervised physiotherapy, for 4 weeks (12 sessions). The anode will be placed over the contralateral primary motor cortex (M1) quadriceps representation (C3 for the right leg and C4 for the left leg), using the international 10-20 system, while the cathode will be positioned over the contralateral supraorbital region.
Standard Physical Therapy
Other intervention
Standard physical therapy for 8 weeks, 1 hour per day, 3 times per week, for a total of 24 sessions.

Treatment groups

64 Participants

are divided into 2 treatment groups

Group A: Standard Physical TherapyActive comparator 2 interventions

Group B: Standard Physical Therapy Plus Anodal tDCSExperimental treatment 2 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

Quadriceps Muscle Strength

Quadriceps muscle strength will be assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer or handheld dynamometer following ACL reconstruction.

Time frame

Baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks

Locations

This trial has no locations.

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

University of Lahore

Lead sponsor

Source ClinicalTrials.gov

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