Short- and Long-term Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Upper Limb Motor Function after Stroke: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (9) ◽  
pp. 1137-1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lan Zhang ◽  
Guoqiang Xing ◽  
Youlin Fan ◽  
Zhiwei Guo ◽  
Huaping Chen ◽  
...  

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term effects as well as other parameters of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on upper limb motor functional recovery after stroke. Data sources: The databases of PubMed, Medline, Science Direct, Cochrane, and Embase were searched for randomized controlled studies reporting effects of rTMS on upper limb motor recovery published before October 30, 2016. Review methods: The short- and long-term mean effect sizes as well as the effect size of rTMS frequency of pulse, post-stroke onset, and theta burst stimulation patterns were summarized by calculating the standardized mean difference (SMD) and the 95% confidence interval using fixed/random effect models as appropriate. Results: Thirty-four studies with 904 participants were included in this systematic review. Pooled estimates show that rTMS significantly improved short-term (SMD, 0.43; P < 0.001) and long-term (SMD, 0.49; P < 0.001) manual dexterity. More pronounced effects were found for rTMS administered in the acute phase of stroke (SMD, 0.69), subcortical stroke (SMD, 0.66), 5-session rTMS treatment (SMD, 0.67) and intermittent theta burst stimulation (SMD, 0.60). Only three studies reported mild adverse events such as headache and increased anxiety . Conclusions: Five-session rTMS treatment could best improve stroke-induced upper limb dyskinesia acutely and in a long-lasting manner. Intermittent theta burst stimulation is more beneficial than continuous theta burst stimulation. rTMS applied in the acute phase of stroke is more effective than rTMS applied in the chronic phase. Subcortical lesion benefit more from rTMS than other lesion site.

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiro Kondo ◽  
Naoki Yamada ◽  
Ryo Momosaki ◽  
Masato Shimizu ◽  
Masahiro Abo

Background. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference between the therapeutic effect of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS) and that of continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS), when each is combined with intensive occupational therapy (OT), in poststroke patients with upper limb hemiparesis. Materials and Methods. The study subjects were 103 poststroke patients with upper limb hemiparesis, who were divided into two groups: the LF-rTMS group (n=71) and the cTBS group (three pulse bursts at 50 Hz) (n=32). Each subject received 12 sessions of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of 2,400 pulses applied to the nonlesional hemisphere and 240-min intensive OT (two 60-min one-to-one training sessions and two 60-min self-training exercises) daily for 15 days. Motor function was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and the performance time of the Wolf motor function test (WMFT) was determined on the days of admission and discharge. Results. Both groups showed a significant increase in the FMA score and a short log performance time of the WMFT (p<0.001), but the increase in the FMA score was higher in the LF-rTMS group than the cTBS group (p<0.05). Conclusion. We recommend the use of 2400 pulses of LF-rTMS/OT for 2 weeks as treatment for hemiparetic patients.


Author(s):  
Zsolt Turi ◽  
Maximilian Lenz ◽  
Walter Paulus ◽  
Matthias Mittner ◽  
Andreas Vlachos

AbstractBackgroundRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an increasingly used, non-invasive brain stimulation technique in neuroscience research and clinical practice with a broad spectrum of suggested applications. Among other parameters, the choice of stimulus intensity and intracranial electric field strength substantially impact rTMS outcome. This review provides a systematic overview of the intensity selection approaches and stimulation intensities used in human rTMS studies. We also examined whether studies report sufficient information to reproduce stimulus intensities in basic science research models. Methods. We performed a systematic review by focusing on original studies published between 1991 and 2020. We included conventional (e.g., 1 Hz or 10 Hz) and patterned protocols (e.g., continuous or intermittent theta burst stimulation). We identified 3,784 articles in total, and we manually processed a representative portion (20%) of randomly selected articles. Results. The majority of the analyzed studies (90% of entries) used the motor threshold (MT) approach and stimulation intensities from 80 to 120% of the MT. For continuous and intermittent theta burst stimulation, the most frequent stimulation intensity was 80% of the active MT. Most studies (92% of entries) did not report sufficient information to reproduce the stimulation intensity. Only a minority of studies (1.03% of entries) estimated the rTMS-induced electric field strengths. Conclusion. We formulate easy-to-follow recommendations to help scientists and clinicians report relevant information on stimulation intensity. Future standardized reporting guidelines may facilitate the use of basic science approaches aiming at better understanding the molecular, cellular, and neuronal mechanisms of rTMS.


2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Fu ◽  
Weiqun Song ◽  
Yanming Zhang ◽  
Yuanbin Yang ◽  
Su Huo ◽  
...  

BMC Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawei Li ◽  
Aixia Cheng ◽  
Zhiyou Zhang ◽  
Yuqian Sun ◽  
Yingchun Liu

Abstract Background Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been reported to treat muscle spasticity in post-stroke patients. The purpose of this study was to explore whether combined low-frequency rTMS (LF-rTMS) and cerebellar continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) could provide better relief than different modalities alone for muscle spasticity and limb dyskinesia in stroke patients. Methods This study recruited ninety stroke patients with hemiplegia, who were divided into LF-rTMS+cTBS group (n=30), LF-rTMS group (n=30) and cTBS group (three pulse bursts at 50 Hz, n=30). The LF-rTMS group received 1 Hz rTMS stimulation of the motor cortical (M1) region on the unaffected side of the brain, the cTBS group received cTBS stimulation to the cerebellar region, and the LF-rTMS+cTBS group received 2 stimuli as described above. Each group received 4 weeks of stimulation followed by rehabilitation. Muscle spasticity, motor function of limb and activity of daily living (ADL) were evaluated by modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) scores, respectively. Results The MAS score was markedly decreased, FMA and MBI scores were markedly increased in the three groups after therapy than before therapy. In addition, after therapy, LF-rTMS+cTBS group showed lower MAS score, higher FMA and MBI scores than the LF-rTMS group and cTBS group. Conclusion Muscle spasticity and limb dyskinesia of the three groups are all significantly improved after therapy. Combined LF-rTMS and cTBS treatment is more effective in improving muscle spasticity and limb dyskinesia of patients after stroke than LF-rTMS and cTBS treatment alone.


2012 ◽  
Vol 147 (5) ◽  
pp. 817-825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Peng ◽  
Xiu-Qi Chen ◽  
Shu-Sheng Gong

Objective This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment for chronic tinnitus. Data Sources Relevant electronic databases and a reference list of articles published up to January 2012 were searched. Randomized controlled clinical trials of all types of rTMS treatment for patients with chronic tinnitus were included. Review Methods A literature search was conducted with structured criteria to select studies evaluated for systematic review. Results Five trials (160 participants) were included in this review. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment showed benefits in the short term, but the long-term effects are questionable. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the visual analog scale (VAS) were the major assessment methods used. After active TMS stimulation, the reduction in the THI total score and VAS was significant compared with baseline at the first time point assessed and in the short term (2 weeks and 4 weeks). The longest follow-up time was 26 weeks after treatment, and the shortest follow-up time was 2 weeks. No severe side effects were reported from the use of rTMS. Differences in age, hearing level, duration of tinnitus of the included patients, and the condition of sham treatment may influence the effect. Conclusion Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation could be a new therapeutic tool for the treatment of chronic tinnitus, and thus far we have not been able to demonstrate any substantial risk from rTMS treatment. However, the long-term effects of rTMS treatment for tinnitus are not clear and will require further study.


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