Effect of low-frequency rTMS on motor neuron excitability after stroke.

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the non-lesional hemisphere on motor neuron excitability of the paretic upper limb in post-stroke patients by electrophysiological examination. Thirteen post-stroke patients with spastic upper limb hemiparesis were studied (age, 57.5 ± 11.1 years; time after stroke, 55.2 ± 51.4 months). Low-frequency rTMS of 1 Hz was applied for 20 min to the motor cortex of the non-lesional hemisphere. The M-response amplitude and F-wave parameters were recorded in the abductor pollicis brevis muscle following stimulation of the median nerve in both the affected and unaffected upper limbs. The F-wave frequency, F-max/M ratio (ratio of maximum F-wave amplitude to M-response amplitude), and F-mean/M ratio (the ratio of mean F-wave amplitude to the M-response amplitude) were measured before and after the 20-min rTMS, analyzed for both limbs. Application of low-frequency rTMS did not result in significant changes in the frequency of F-wave and F-max/M ratio in both upper limbs, but significantly decreased F-mean/M ratio in the affected upper limb (P < 0.005), but not in the unaffected limb. Low-frequency rTMS applied to the non-lesional hemisphere might be potentially useful therapeutically for post-stroke patients with spastic upper limb hemiparesis.

Kondo T ，Kakuda W ，Yamada N ，Shimizu M ，Hagino H ，Abo M ... -  《-》

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and intensive occupational therapy on motor neuron excitability in poststroke hemiparetic patients: a neurophysiological investigation using F-wave parameters.

Kondo T ，Kakuda W ，Yamada N ，Shimizu M ，Abo M ... -  《-》

Low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to the non-lesioned hemisphere improves paretic arm reach-to-grasp performance after chronic stroke.

Tretriluxana J ，Kantak S ，Tretriluxana S ，Wu AD ，Fisher BE ... -  《-》

Effects of combining high- and low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on upper limb hemiparesis in the early phase of stroke.

Long H ，Wang H ，Zhao C ，Duan Q ，Feng F ，Hui N ，Mao L ，Liu H ，Mou X ，Yuan H ... -  《-》

Bilateral high- and low-frequency rTMS in acute stroke patients with hemiparesis: a comparative study with unilateral high-frequency rTMS.

Sasaki N ，Kakuda W ，Abo M 《-》