Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (33): 8838-8844.doi: 10.12307/2026.405

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Positive effects of transcranial direct current stimulation in improving muscle and cardiopulmonary endurance

Zhang Yi, Wu Huaduo, Song Yu, Dong Yumo, Zhang Yiguang, Wang Qian, Gao Xin, Jiang Ning   

  1. Institute of Sports and Health, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness Integration and Health Promotion, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine, Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin 301617, China
  • Received:2025-07-11 Revised:2025-11-09 Online:2026-11-28 Published:2026-06-22
  • Contact: Jiang Ning, PhD, Professor, Institute of Sports and Health, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness Integration and Health Promotion, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine, Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin 301617, China
  • About author:Zhang Yi, MS candidate, Institute of Sports and Health, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness Integration and Health Promotion, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine, Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin 301617, China
  • Supported by:
    Tianjin Education Commission Scientific Research Project, No. 2021KJ002 (to SY)

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: In recent years, transcranial direct current stimulation technology has gained widespread attention as a non-invasive means of neuromodulation to improve endurance.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze and summarize the application of transcranial direct current stimulation in improving endurance performance, and to explore the application effect of transcranial direct current stimulation in muscle endurance and cardiopulmonary endurance.
METHODS: The effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on endurance performance were searched through data knowledge service platforms such as CNKI, WanFang, VIP, PubMed and Dimension Academic (SPIS). The Chinese search terms were “transcranial direct current stimulation,” “endurance performance,” “endurance exercise,” and “exercise performance.” The English search terms were “tDCS,” “transcranial direct current stimulation,” “endurance performance,” “endurance exercise,” and “sports performance.” The literature was screened to find out the Chinese and English journal papers that fit the theme. Finally, 73 articles were included for review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Transcranial direct current stimulation has yielded promising research results in enhancing endurance performance. By modulating the resting membrane potential of cortical neurons to induce depolarization, it increases cortical excitability and strengthens connectivity between the cerebral cortex and neuromuscular systems, thereby improving muscle recruitment efficiency and endurance performance. Transcranial direct current stimulation may also prolong endurance performance by modulating an individual’s perception of effort, allowing the individual to better tolerate fatigue during endurance training. Transcranial direct current stimulation may have a positive effect on cardiopulmonary endurance by influencing brain function. It should be noted that there are still some controversies and uncertainties regarding the improvement of endurance in transcranial direct current stimulation, and future studies need to further explore the mechanism of action, applicable populations and sustained effects of this technology in order to provide a more reliable basis for clinical practice.






Key words:

transcranial direct current stimulation, endurance exercise, sports performance, muscle endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance, review

CLC Number: