Article

Walking rehabilitation is one of the primary goals in stroke survivors because of
its great potential for recovery and its functional relevance in daily living
activities. Although 70% to 80% of people in the chronic poststroke phases are
able to walk, impairment of gait often persists, involving speed, endurance, and
stability. Walking involves several brain regions, such as the sensorimotor
cortex, supplementary motor area, cerebellum, and brainstem, which are
approachable by the application of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS). NIBS
techniques, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial
direct current stimulation, have been reported to modulate neural activity beyond
the period of stimulation, facilitating neuroplasticity.
NIBS methods have been
largely applied for improving paretic hand motor function and stroke-associated
cognitive deficits. Recent studies suggest a possible effectiveness of these
techniques also in the recovery of poststroke gait disturbance. This article is a
selective review about functional investigations addressing the mechanisms of
lower-limb motor system reorganization after stroke and the application of NIBS
for neurorehabilitation.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2015.

Langue : ANGLAIS