Effect of cerebellar stimulation on postural control and associated resting-state functional alterations in chronic ankle instability

The tDCS group showed a significant reduction in the CoP length in the mediolateral direction (<i>p</i> = 0.020, Cohen's <i>d</i> = -0.963). However, no significant alterations were observed between the sham and tDCS groups in terms of other CoP sway or BESS outcomes. A strong association was observed between the tDCS-induced reduction in mediolateral CoP length and the improvement in activity coherence in superior lobe 3, which is involved in integrating sensory information into postural motor responses (<i>r</i> = -0.709, <i>p</i> = 0.018). Our study indicates that a single session of cerebellar tDCS can immediately alter postural control in patients with CAI and is correlated with increased coherence in the superior lobe of the cerebellum. However, the observed beneficial effects in laboratory-based CoP tests might be too subtle to be detected by clinic-based BESS outcomes.