Several types of routines and methods have been experimented to gain
neuromuscular advantages, in terms of exercise performance, in athletes and
fitness enthusiasts. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact
of biemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation on physical fitness
indicators of healthy, physically active, men. In a randomized,
single-blinded, crossover fashion, seventeen subjects (age:
30.9 ± 6.5 years, BMI: 24.8±3.1 kg/m2)
underwent either stimulation or sham, prior to: vertical jump, sit &
reach, and endurance running tests. Mixed repeated measures anova revealed a
large main effect of stimulation for any of the three physical fitness
measures. Stimulation determined increases of lower limb power
(+ 5%), sit & reach amplitude
(+ 9%) and endurance running capacity
(+ 12%) with respect to sham condition
(0.16<ηp2 < 0.41; p<0.05).
Ratings-of-perceived-exertion, recorded at the end of each test session, did
not change across all performances. However, in the stimulated-endurance
protocol, an average lower rate-of-perceived-exertion at iso-time was
inferred. A portable transcranial direct current stimulation headset could
be a valuable ergogenic resource for individuals seeking to improve physical
fitness in daily life or in athletic training.