Journal Article

Multifocal transcranial direct current stimulation enhances lower limb jump performance and neuromuscular adaptation in female collegiate basketball players

Li, Danyang, Chen, Ruibo, Jia, Binbin, Wang, Qingwei

2026

Overview

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been reported to enhance explosive strength in lower limb skeletal muscles. Nevertheless, findings regarding the impact of tDCS on jump performance remain inconclusive, potentially due to variations in stimulation montage and current intensity. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the effects of multifocal tDCS on lower limb jump kinetics and neuromuscular adaptation. Fourteen female collegiate basketball players were enrolled in a randomized, crossover, controlled trial. Each participant underwent three intervention sessions in a randomized sequence: 2 mA tDCS, 4 mA tDCS, and sham tDCS, all targeting the primary motor cortex (M1). After each stimulation session, countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), drop jump (DJ), and surface electromyography (EMG) data were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way repeated measures ANOVA. The 4 mA multifocal tDCS condition produced a significant increase in jump height compared to baseline, sham, and the 2 mA condition. Similarly, the concentric impulse was markedly higher in the 4 mA group relative to all other conditions. Relative peak force was significantly improved in the 4 mA group versus baseline, and relative peak power was significantly greater under 4 mA tDCS compared to sham stimulation. The modified reactive strength index (RSImod) was also enhanced considerably following 4 mA tDCS, relative to both baseline and sham conditions. However, EMG analysis indicated that none of the tDCS interventions significantly affected the root mean square (RMS) values of lower limb muscle activation, including the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), biceps femoris (BF), semitendinosus/semimembranosus (SEM), medial gastrocnemius (MG), lateral gastrocnemius (GL), and tibialis anterior (TA). Multifocal anodal tDCS at an intensity of 4 mA significantly improves lower limb jump performance in female collegiate basketball athletes. Integrating multifocal anodal tDCS into routine training regimens may serve as a practical and effective adjunct for enhancing performance in this population.

• Publisher: PeerJ. Ltd,PeerJ, Inc,PeerJ Inc
• Subject: Adaptation / Adaptation, Physiological / Analysis / Athletes / Athletic performance / Athletic Performance - physiology / Athletic recruitment / Basketball / Basketball (College) / Basketball - physiology / Biomechanics / Cortex (motor) / Cross-Over Studies / Direct current / Electric fields / Electrical stimulation of the brain / Electrodes / Electromyography / Endurance / ESB / Exercise / Female / Female athletes / Female basketball athletes / Females / Humans / Injuries / Jump performance / Kinesiology / Lower Extremity - physiology / Motor Cortex - physiology / Multifocal transcranial direct current stimulation / Muscle contraction / Muscle strength / Muscle Strength - physiology / Muscle, Skeletal - physiology / Muscles / Neurology / Neuromuscular adaptation / Neuroscience / Performance enhancement / Players / Skeletal muscle / Sports Medicine / Stadiums / Statistical analysis / Stimulation / Strength training / Surface electromyography / Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation - methods / Variance analysis / Womens sports / Young Adult