Acute Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Peak Torque and 5000 m Running Performance: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Overview

Journal Sci Rep

Specialty Science

Date 2023 Jun 8

PMID 37291264

Authors

Leila Fernanda Dos Santos

Devisson Dos Santos Silva

Micael Deivison de Jesus Alves

Erika Vitoria Moura Pereira

Hortencia Reis do Nascimento

Matheus Santos de Sousa Fernandes

Aristela de Freitas Zanona

Beat Knechtle

Katja Weiss

Felipe J Aidar

Raphael Fabricio DE Souza

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The benefits of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on brain function, cognitive response, and motor ability are well described in scientific literature. Nevertheless, the effects of tDCS on athletes' performance remain unclear. To compare the acute effects of tDCS on the running performance of 5000 m (m) runners. Eighteen athletes were randomized into Anodal (n = 9) groups that received tDCS for 20 min and 2 mA, and Sham (n = 9), in the motor cortex region (M1). Running time in 5000 m, speed, perceived exertion (RPE), internal load and peak torque (Pt) were evaluated. The Shapiro-Wilk test followed by a paired Student's t-test was used to compare Pt and total time to complete the run between the groups. The running time and speed of the Anodal group (p = 0.02; 95% CI 0.11-2.32; d = 1.24) was lower than the Sham group (p = 0.02, 95% CI 0.05-2.20; d = 1.15). However, no difference was found in Pt (p = 0.70; 95% CI - 0.75 to 1.11; d = 0.18), RPE (p = 0.23; 95% CI - 1.55 to 0.39; d = 0.60) and internal charge (p = 0.73; 95% CI - 0.77 to 1.09; d = 0.17). Our data indicate that tDCS can acutely optimize the time and speed of 5000 m runners. However, no alterations were found for Pt and RPE.

References

Hattori Y, Moriwaki A, Hori Y . Biphasic effects of polarizing current on adenosine-sensitive generation of cyclic AMP in rat cerebral cortex. Neurosci Lett. 1990; 116(3):320-4. DOI: 10.1016/0304-3940(90)90094-p. View

de Morree H, Klein C, Marcora S . Perception of effort reflects central motor command during movement execution. Psychophysiology. 2012; 49(9):1242-53. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2012.01399.x. View

Polania R, Paulus W, Antal A, Nitsche M . Introducing graph theory to track for neuroplastic alterations in the resting human brain: a transcranial direct current stimulation study. Neuroimage. 2010; 54(3):2287-96. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.09.085. View

Mesquita P, Lage G, Franchini E, Romano-Silva M, Albuquerque M . Bi-hemispheric anodal transcranial direct current stimulation worsens taekwondo-related performance. Hum Mov Sci. 2019; 66:578-586. DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2019.06.003. View

Borg G . Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1982; 14(5):377-81. View

Lattari E, Campos C, Lamego M, Legey S, Neto G, Rocha N . Can Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improve Muscle Power in Individuals With Advanced Weight-Training Experience?. J Strength Cond Res. 2017; 34(1):97-103. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001956. View

Nitsche M, Paulus W . Excitability changes induced in the human motor cortex by weak transcranial direct current stimulation. J Physiol. 2000; 527 Pt 3:633-9. PMC: 2270099. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7793.2000.t01-1-00633.x. View

Angius L, Hopker J, Mauger A . The Ergogenic Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Exercise Performance. Front Physiol. 2017; 8:90. PMC: 5306290. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00090. View

Uehara L, Coelho D, Leal-Junior E, de Paiva P, Batista A, Moreira R . Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Muscle Fatigue in Recreational Runners: Randomized, Sham-Controlled, Triple-Blind, Crossover Study-Protocol Study. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2021; 101(3):279-283. DOI: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000001721. View

10.

Gandevia S . Spinal and supraspinal factors in human muscle fatigue. Physiol Rev. 2001; 81(4):1725-89. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.2001.81.4.1725. View

11.

Schulz K, Altman D, Moher D . CONSORT 2010 statement: updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomized trials. Ann Intern Med. 2010; 152(11):726-32. DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-152-11-201006010-00232. View

12.

Baldari C, Buzzachera C, Vitor-Costa M, Gabardo J, Bernardes A, Altimari L . Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Psychophysiological Responses to Maximal Incremental Exercise Test in Recreational Endurance Runners. Front Psychol. 2018; 9:1867. PMC: 6189328. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01867. View

13.

Giboin L, Gruber M . Anodal and cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation can decrease force output of knee extensors during an intermittent MVC fatiguing task in young healthy male participants. J Neurosci Res. 2018; 96(9):1600-1609. DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24254. View

14.

Romero-Arenas S, Calderon-Nadal G, Alix-Fages C, Jerez-Martinez A, Colomer-Poveda D, Marquez G . Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Does Not Improve Countermovement Jump Performance in Young Healthy Men. J Strength Cond Res. 2019; 35(10):2918-2921. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003242. View

15.

Williams P, Hoffman R, Clark B . Preliminary evidence that anodal transcranial direct current stimulation enhances time to task failure of a sustained submaximal contraction. PLoS One. 2013; 8(12):e81418. PMC: 3857184. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081418. View

16.

Angius L, Mauger A, Hopker J, Pascual-Leone A, Santarnecchi E, Marcora S . Bilateral extracephalic transcranial direct current stimulation improves endurance performance in healthy individuals. Brain Stimul. 2017; 11(1):108-117. PMC: 6298602. DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2017.09.017. View

17.

Alves M, Knechtle B, Silva D, Fernandes M, Gomes J, Thuany M . Effects of High-Intensity Warm-Up on 5000-Meter Performance Time in Trained Long-Distance Runners. J Sports Sci Med. 2023; 22(2):254-262. PMC: 10245000. DOI: 10.52082/jssm.2023.254. View

18.

Abdelmoula A, Baudry S, Duchateau J . Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation enhances time to task failure of a submaximal contraction of elbow flexors without changing corticospinal excitability. Neuroscience. 2016; 322:94-103. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.02.025. View

19.

Alix-Fages C, Romero-Arenas S, Calderon-Nadal G, Jerez-Martinez A, Pareja-Blanco F, Colomer-Poveda D . Transcranial direct current stimulation and repeated sprint ability: No effect on sprint performance or ratings of perceived exertion. Eur J Sport Sci. 2021; 22(4):569-578. DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2021.1883124. View

20.

Alix-Fages C, Garcia-Ramos A, Romero-Arenas S, Nadal G, Jerez-Martinez A, Colomer-Poveda D . Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Does Not Affect Sprint Performance or the Horizontal Force-Velocity Profile. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2021; 93(3):650-658. DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2021.1893260. View