Transcranial direct current stimulation improves physical performance in high-level volleyball players during fatigue

Abstract The current study investigated the effects of dual-site transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over primary motor cortex (M1) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on the physical performance in high-level volleyball players during fatigue. Twenty volleyball players conducted fatigue induced by 60-min trial at 60% peak power output combined with a Stroop test, then received four 10 min sessions of 2 mA anodal tDCS over M1 (tDCS M1 ), DLPFC (tDCS DLPFC ), M1 + DLPFC (tDCS M1+DLPFC ), or sham stimulation (tDCS SHAM ) in a counterbalanced order. Spike test (ST), medicine ball test (MBT), countermovement jump (CMJ), T-test, 30-m sprint, and 15-s rebound jump were conducted at baseline, immediately after (post1), and 40-min after tDCS intervention (post2). At post1, tDCS M1+DLPFC , tDCS M1 , and tDCS DLPFC significantly improved performance in ST, MBT, CMJ, 30-m sprint, and T-test compared to sham (P < 0.05). At post2, tDCS M1+DLPFC improved ST, MBT, T-test, and 30-m sprint, tDCS M1 enhanced MBT, and tDCS DLPFC improved MBT, 30-m sprint, and T-test compared to sham (P < 0.05). The simultaneous application of tDCS over M1 and DLPFC alleviates the impact of fatigue on physical performance for a duration of up to 40 min in high-level volleyball players.