Abstract
Non-invasive neuromodulation techniques have recently received more attention in the treatment of both acute and chronic pain, as they represent a relatively safe and increasingly achievable alternative or complement to pharmacological interventions. Transcranial DC stimulation (tDCS) is based on the non-invasive use of a safe rate of direct current flow applied by a stimulator, usually to one anode and a cathode placed on the head, to induce desirable changes in neuronal excitability in a selected area of the cerebral cortex.
Even a one-time application of tDCS affects the secretion of endogenous opioids, while multiple ones have a neuroplastic effect, which can be advantageously used, for example, in combination with rehabilitation practice for painful conditions of the musculoskeletal system (improvement of locomotor learning). In this article, we present an overview of the use of tDCS in selected pain-related diseases, including some notes on specific findings that may increase the analgesic effect of tDCS.