Augmenting the Effects of Mirror Therapy for Stroke Rehabilitation by tDCS

Inclusion Criteria:

1. sustained an unilateral stroke with onset ≥ 6 months;
2. UE-FMA score between 18 and 56 indicating moderate to mild motor severity;
3. aged from 45 to 85 years old; and
4. able to follow instructions and perform the tasks (Mini Mental State Examination ≥ 24).

Exclusion Criteria:

if they

1. have excessive spasticity or joint contracture of the paretic UE;
2. are enrolled in other rehabilitation experiments or drug studies;
3. have additional neurological or psychological disorders other than stroke;
4. have received Botulinum toxin injections 3 months before enrollment;
5. have unstable cardiovascular status such as uncontrolled hypertension or New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III/IV heart failure;
6. have contradictions to tDCS including a history of epilepsy, migraine headache, uncontrolled medical status, being pregnant, having a pacemaker, or metal implanted in their head or body; and
7. have a history of drug or alcohol abuse, skin lesions on the electrode sites, brain tumor, brain injury, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), had brain surgery, other brain diseases (such as intracranial hypertension or cerebral edema), or being not suitable for using tDCS by the physician's assessment.