Effect of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combining task-oriented training on upper limb motor function recovery after stroke
WANG Hong-bin
LONG Hua
YUAN Hua
DUAN Qiang
HUI Nan
WANG Hong
MAO Li
MOU Xiang
Abstract：Objective To investigate the effect of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with task-oriented training on the recovery of upper limb motor function of stroke patients.Methods A total of 42 patients with hemiplegia after stroke were randomly divided into control group (N =20) and treatment group (N =22).Control group received routine rehabilitation training and task-oriented training,and treatment group received low-frequency (1 Hz) rTMS over the contralesional cortex addition to routine rehabilitation and task-oriented training.Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) were used to evaluate upper limb motor function of all patients before treatment,after 4-week treatment and 3 months after treatment.The latency and central motor conduction time (CMCT) of motor-evoked potential (MEP) in the contralesional cortex were recorded and analyzed.Results Compared with control group,FMA-UE score (P =0.006) and WMFT score (P =0.024) were significantly increased in treatment group.There was significant difference in FMA-UE score (P =0.000) and WMFT score (P =0.000) at different time points.Compared with before treatment,FMA-UE score (P =0.000,for all) and WMFT score (P =0.000,for all) of patients in both groups were all significantly increased after 4-week treatment and 3 months after treatment.Besides,FMA-UE score (P =0.000,for all) and WMFT score (P =0.000,for all) 3 months after treatment were higher than those after 4-week treatment.There was no statistically significant difference between 2 groups on the latency (P =0.979) and CMCT (P =0.807) of MEP before and after treatment,and so was the difference on the latency (P =0.085) and CMCT (P =0.507) of MEP in the contralesional cortex at different time points (before treatment,after 4-week treatment and 3 months after treatment).Conclusions Low-frequency rTMS over the contralesional cortex combined with task-oriented training could greatly promote upper limb motor function of patients after stroke,and should be recommended to clinical application.
Keywords：StrokeMovement disordersUpper extremityTranscranial magnetic stimulationRehabilitation
Publication Date：2017-01-01
Pages：7( 254-260 )