Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic
stimulation (rTMS) on mobility among patients with substantial leg impairment
after subacute stroke. DESIGN: Double-blinded, stratified, randomized trial
involving a sham control group. PARTICIPANTS: Patients who developed unilateral
hemiplegia after first-ever subacute stroke and underwent inpatient stroke
rehabilitation. METHODS: The 15-day intervention programme used in the present
study included the application of rTMS (1 Hz, 15 min) over the leg motor area of
the unaffected hemisphere, followed by 45 min physical therapy. Overall, 32
participants were randomly assigned to receive either real rTMS or sham
stimulation. Clinical assessments, including the Postural Assessment Scale for
Stroke Patients (PASS), balance subscale of the Performance Oriented Mobility
Assessment (POMA-b), Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Barthel Index (BI), and Timed Up and
Go test, were performed immediately before and after the intervention. RESULTS:
Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in all the test results over
time. At the post-test assessment, the patients in the real rTMS group
demonstrated greater improvements in the PASS, POMA, and BI scores than did the
patients in the sham rTMS group. In addition, a significantly higher number of
patients in the real rTMS group regained mobility at the post-test assessment
compared with the corresponding number of patients in the sham rTMS group.
CONCLUSION: Application of 1-Hz rTMS may improve mobility among patients with
substantial leg impairment after subacute stroke.

Langue : ANGLAIS