Effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined with Dual Task Training on Balance and Fall Risk in Parkinson’s Disease

Purpose: The objective was to examine the synergistic effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the primary motor cortex (M1) in conjunction with dual-task training (DTT) on balance, functional mobility, and prospective fall rates.Methods: Forty Parkinson's disease (PD) patients (Hoehn & Yahr II-III), aged 50 to 75 years, were randomized into active or sham tDCS groups.Both groups underwent identical 4-week DTT (3 sessions per week) that integrated balance and gait exercises with cognitive activities.The active group underwent 20 minutes of 2mA anodal tDCS over the M1 before training, while the sham group experienced a similar setup with only an initial simulation of current.Results: Following the intervention, the active tDCS group exhibited substantially greater enhancements compared to the sham group on the BBS (mean difference: +4.5 points, p