Effects of high- and low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor recovery in early stroke patients: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial with clinical, neurophysiological and functional imaging assessments.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can modulate cortical excitability, and may be beneficial for motor recovery after stroke. However, the neuroplasticity effects of rTMS have not been thoroughly investigated in the early stage after stroke. To comprehensively assess the effects of high- and low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulations on motor recovery in early stroke patients, using a randomized controlled trial based on clinical, neurophysiological and functional imaging assessments. Sixty hospitalized, first-ever ischemic stroke patients (within 2 weeks after stroke) with motor deficits were randomly allocated to receive, in addition to standard physical therapy, five consecutive sessions of either: (1) High-frequency (HF) rTMS at 10 Hz over the ipsilesional primary motor cortex (M1); (2) Low-frequency (LF) rTMS at 1 Hz over the contralesional M1; (3) sham rTMS. The primary outcome measure was a motor impairment score (Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer) evaluated at baseline, after rTMS intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. Cortical excitability and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were obtained within 24 h before and after rTMS intervention. Analyses of variance were conducted to compare the recovery effects among the three rTMS groups, assessed using clinical, neurophysiological and fMRI tests. Motor improvement was significantly larger in the two rTMS groups than in the control group. The HF-rTMS group showed significantly increased cortical excitability and motor-evoked fMRI activation in ipsilesional motor areas, whereas the LF-rTMS group had significantly decreased cortical excitability and motor-evoked fMRI activation in contralesional motor areas. Activity in ipsilesional motor cortex significantly correlated with motor function, after intervention as well as at 3-month follow-up. HF- and LF-rTMS can both improve motor function by modulating motor cortical activation in the early phase of stroke.

Du J ，Yang F ，Hu J ，Hu J ，Xu Q ，Cong N ，Zhang Q ，Liu L ，Mantini D ，Zhang Z ，Lu G ，Liu X ... -  《NeuroImage-Clinical》

Low-frequency rTMS in patients with subacute ischemic stroke: clinical evaluation of short and long-term outcomes and neurophysiological assessment of cortical excitability.

Blesneag AV ，Slăvoacă DF ，Popa L ，Stan AD ，Jemna N ，Isai Moldovan F ，Mureșanu DF ... -  《-》

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor recovery and motor cortex excitability in patients with stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) changes the excitability of the motor cortex and thereby has the potential to enhance motor recovery after stroke. This randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind study was to compare the effects of high-frequency versus low-frequency rTMS on motor recovery during the early phase of stroke and to identify the neurophysiological correlates of motor improvements. A total of 69 first-ever ischemic stroke patients with motor deficits were randomly allocated to receive five daily sessions of 3-Hz ipsilesional rTMS, 1-Hz contralesional rTMS or sham rTMS in addition to standard physical therapy. Outcome measures included motor deficits, neurological scores and cortical excitability, which were assessed at baseline, after the intervention and at 3-month follow-up. The rTMS groups manifested greater motor improvements than the control group, which were sustained for at least 3 months after the end of the treatment sessions. 1-Hz rTMS over the unaffected hemisphere produced more profound effects than 3-Hz rTMS in facilitating upper limb motor performance. There was a significant correlation between motor function improvement and motor cortex excitability change in the affected hemisphere. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is a beneficial neurorehabilitative strategy for enhancing motor recovery in the acute and subacute phase after stroke.

Du J ，Tian L ，Liu W ，Hu J ，Xu G ，Ma M ，Fan X ，Ye R ，Jiang Y ，Yin Q ，Zhu W ，Xiong Y ，Yang F ，Liu X ... -  《-》

Low-Frequency rTMS over Contralesional M1 Increases Ipsilesional Cortical Excitability and Motor Function with Decreased Interhemispheric Asymmetry in Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Study.

To determine the long-term effects of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS) over the contralesional M1 preceding motor task practice on the interhemispheric asymmetry of the cortical excitability and the functional recovery in subacute stroke patients with mild to moderate arm paresis. Twenty-four subacute stroke patients were randomly allocated to either the experimental or control group. The experimental group underwent rTMS over the contralesional M1 (1 Hz), immediately followed by 30 minutes of motor task practice (10 sessions within 2 weeks). The controls received sham rTMS and the same task practice. Following the 2-week intervention period, the task practice was continued twice weekly for another 10 weeks in both groups. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline (T0), at the end of the 2-week stimulation period (T1), and at 12-week follow-up (T2). The MEP (paretic hand) and interhemispheric asymmetry, Fugl-Meyer motor assessment, Action Research Arm Test, and box and block test scores improved more in the experimental group than controls at T1 (p < 0.05). The beneficial effects were largely maintained at T2. LF-rTMS over the contralesional M1 preceding motor task practice was effective in enhancing the ipsilesional cortical excitability and upper limb function with reducing interhemispheric asymmetry in subacute stroke patients with mild to moderate arm paresis. Significance. Adding LF-rTMS prior to motor task practice may reduce interhemispheric asymmetry of cortical excitabilities and promote upper limb function recovery in subacute stroke with mild to moderate arm paresis.

Luk KY ，Ouyang HX ，Pang MYC 《-》

Motor Network Reorganization After Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Early Stroke Patients: A Resting State fMRI Study.

Juan Du ，Yao W ，Li J ，Yang F ，Hu J ，Xu Q ，Liu L ，Lv Q ，Liu R ，Ye R ，Ma M ，Zhu W ，Zhang Z ，Liu X ... -  《-》