Article

We investigated the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of the combination of
bihemispheric repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and intensive
occupational therapy (OT)
for upper limb hemiparesis in poststroke patients. The
study participants were eight poststroke patients with upper limb hemiparesis
(age at intervention: 62.8+/-4.9 years, time after stroke: 84.3+/-87.2 months,
mean+/-SD). During 15 days of hospitalization, each patient received 10 sessions
of 40-min bihemispheric rTMS and 240-min intensive OT (120-min one-to-one
training and 120-min self-training). One session of bihemispheric rTMS comprised
the application of both 1 and 10 Hz rTMS (2000 stimuli for each hemisphere). The
Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Wolf Motor Function Test, and the Modified Ashworth Scale
were administered on the day of admission and at discharge.
All patients
completed the treatment without any adverse effects. Motor function of the
affected upper limb improved significantly, on the basis of changes in Fugl-Meyer
Assessment and Wolf Motor Function Test (P<0.05, each).
A significant decrease in
the Modified Ashworth Scale score was noted in the elbow, wrist, and finger
flexors of the affected upper limb (P<0.05, each). The combination of
bihemispheric rTMS and intensive OT was safe and feasible therapy for poststroke
hemiparetic patients, and improved motor function of the hemiparetic upper limb
in poststroke patients. The findings provide a new avenue for the treatment of
patients with poststroke hemiparesis.

Langue : ANGLAIS