
JAT Chat | Rewiring the Ankle: Can tDCS Improve Chronic Ankle Instability?
From JAT Podcasts by The Journal of Athletic Training
December 17, 2025 · 27 min · Episode 172
About this episode
This episode discusses the potential of transcranial direct current stimulation to improve chronic ankle instability with insights from Dr. Alan Needle.
Welcome to JAT Chat, presented by the Journal of Athletic Training, the official journal of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. In this episode, co-host Dr. Kara Radzak speaks with Dr. Alan Needle about the paper, "Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Over the Motor or Frontal Cortex in Patients With Chronic Ankle Instability". The episode explains transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) mechanisms, study design (motor vs frontal vs sham, paired motor-planning rehab), main outcomes (patient-reported improvements across groups, limited neurophysiologic change), and practical implications for incorporating neuromodulatory strategies into athletic training and future research directions. Article: https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0728.24 Episode Guest: Alan Needle, PhD, ATC, CSCS - Professor in Departments of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. https://phes.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/alan-needle
People in this episode
Host: Kara Radzak
Guest: Alan Needle Phd Atc Cscs
Topics covered
- transcranial direct current stimulation
- chronic ankle instability
- neuromodulatory strategies
- athletic training
Keywords
- tDCS
- motor cortex
- frontal cortex
- patient-reported outcomes
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: JAT Chat, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Over the Motor or Frontal Cortex in Patients With Chronic Ankle Instability
Places: Boone, NC
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