Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation as an Adjunct Strategy for Post Chikungunya Articular Pain: Evidence from Randomized Controlled Trials
1
Physiotherapy Department, Morgana Potrich College, Mineiros, Brazil
2
Post graduate Program of Health Science, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Chikungunya fever remains a persistent public health crisis in the Americas, with over 1.6 million cases reported since 2016 1. Approximately half of infected individuals progress to chronic post-viral arthralgia, which can persist for years, severely impairing daily functioning and quality of life 2. Despite this burden, specific therapeutic strategies for post-Chikungunya pain are lacking, and current management relies on adapting treatments from other rheumatological conditions 3,4. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological approach for chronic pain 5; however, its effectiveness specifically for post-Chikungunya arthralgia has not been systematically quantified.
METHODS:
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to assess the analgesic effects of tDCS in adults with chronic post-Chikungunya arthralgia. Three trials were included 6–8, totaling 98 participants. Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Post-treatment means and standard deviations were extracted, and standardized mean differences (SMD) using Hedges' g were calculated. A random-effects model was employed to estimate the pooled effect size, and statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic.
RESULTS:
All included trials demonstrated significant reductions in pain following active stimulation compared to sham groups. The pooled effect size indicated a large and clinically meaningful reduction in pain favoring active tDCS (Hedges' g = 1.94; 95% confidence interval: 1.38 to 2.49; p < 0.001). Heterogeneity was moderate (I² = 49%), reflecting variations in stimulation parameters and follow-up durations; however, the direction of the effect was consistent across all studies.
CONCLUSIONS:
tDCS is an effective adjunctive intervention for managing chronic post-Chikungunya arthralgia, yielding large, clinically relevant pain reduction. These findings support the integration of neuromodulation into post-viral recovery protocols. As a low-cost and portable technology, tDCS offers a scalable solution for public health systems to mitigate the long-term socioeconomic impact of arbovirus outbreaks.
Chikungunya fever remains a persistent public health crisis in the Americas, with over 1.6 million cases reported since 2016 1. Approximately half of infected individuals progress to chronic post-viral arthralgia, which can persist for years, severely impairing daily functioning and quality of life 2. Despite this burden, specific therapeutic strategies for post-Chikungunya pain are lacking, and current management relies on adapting treatments from other rheumatological conditions 3,4. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological approach for chronic pain 5; however, its effectiveness specifically for post-Chikungunya arthralgia has not been systematically quantified.
METHODS:
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to assess the analgesic effects of tDCS in adults with chronic post-Chikungunya arthralgia. Three trials were included 6–8, totaling 98 participants. Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Post-treatment means and standard deviations were extracted, and standardized mean differences (SMD) using Hedges' g were calculated. A random-effects model was employed to estimate the pooled effect size, and statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic.
RESULTS:
All included trials demonstrated significant reductions in pain following active stimulation compared to sham groups. The pooled effect size indicated a large and clinically meaningful reduction in pain favoring active tDCS (Hedges' g = 1.94; 95% confidence interval: 1.38 to 2.49; p < 0.001). Heterogeneity was moderate (I² = 49%), reflecting variations in stimulation parameters and follow-up durations; however, the direction of the effect was consistent across all studies.
CONCLUSIONS:
tDCS is an effective adjunctive intervention for managing chronic post-Chikungunya arthralgia, yielding large, clinically relevant pain reduction. These findings support the integration of neuromodulation into post-viral recovery protocols. As a low-cost and portable technology, tDCS offers a scalable solution for public health systems to mitigate the long-term socioeconomic impact of arbovirus outbreaks.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
