Article

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of high-frequency (20 Hz) brain stimulation on
lower limb motor function in subjects with chronic (> 6 mo) subcortical stroke.
DESIGN: Double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. SETTING: University
hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Right-handed subjects (N=10) affected by a first-ever
subcortical stroke in the territory of the middle cerebral artery were included
in this study. INTERVENTIONS: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
was delivered with the H-coil, specifically designed to target deeper and larger
brains regions. Each subject received both real and sham rTMS in a random
sequence. The 2 rTMS cycles (real or sham) were composed of 11 sessions each,
administered over 3 weeks and separated by a 4-week washout period. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURES: Lower limb functions were assessed by the lower limb Fugl-Meyer scale,
the 10-m walk test, and the 6-minute walk test before and 1 day after the end of
each treatment period, as well as at a 4-week follow-up. RESULTS: Real rTMS
treatment was associated with a significant improvement in lower limb motor
function. This effect persisted over time (follow-up) and was significantly
greater than that observed with sham stimulation. A significant increase in
walking speed was also found after real rTMS, but this effect did not reach
statistical significance in comparison with the sham stimulation. CONCLUSIONS:
These data demonstrated that 3 weeks of high-frequency deep rTMS could induce
long-term improvements in lower limb functions in the chronic poststroke period,
lasting at least 1 month after the end of the treatment.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS