Effects of combining two techniques of non-invasive brain stimulation in subacute stroke patients: a pilot study.

Strokes have recently become a leading cause of disability among Thai people. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) seems to give promising results in stroke recovery when combined with standard rehabilitation programs. To evaluate the combined effect of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the non-lesional primary motor cortex on upper limb motor recovery in patients with subacute stroke. No reports of a combination of these two techniques of NIBS were found in the relevant literature. This pilot study was a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial of ten patients with subacute stroke admitted to the Rehabilitation Medicine Inpatient Unit, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Chiang Mai University. They were randomized into two groups: five in an active and five in a sham intervention group. Fugl-Meyer's upper extremity motor score (FMA-UE) and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) were used to assess motor recovery at baseline, immediately, and 1 week after stimulation. A two-way repeated ANOVA (mixed design) showed a significant improvement in FMA-UE scores in the active intervention group both immediately and 1 week after stimulation in comparison to the baseline, [time, F (2, 16) = 27.44, p < 0.001, time x group interaction, F (2, 16) = 13.29, p < 0.001]. Despite no statistical significance, a trend toward higher WMFT scores was shown in the active intervention group. A single session of low-frequency rTMS and cathodal tDCS over the non-lesional primary motor cortex may enhance upper limb motor recovery in patients with subacute stroke.

Pipatsrisawat S ，Klaphajone J ，Kitisak K ，Sungkarat S ，Wivatvongvana P ... -  《BMC Neurology》

Effects of Priming Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation With High-Definition tDCS on Upper Limb Function in Hemiparetic Patients With Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Bian L ，Zhang L ，Huang G ，Song D ，Zheng K ，Xu X ，Dai W ，Ren C ，Shen Y ... -  《-》

Comparative efficacy of different noninvasive brain stimulation protocols on upper-extremity motor function and activities of daily living after stroke: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Li LL ，Wu JJ ，Li KP ，Jin J ，Xiang YT ，Hua XY ，Zheng MX ，Xu JG ... -  《-》

Transcranial electrostimulation with special waveforms enhances upper-limb motor function in patients with chronic stroke: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Chen SC ，Yang LY ，Adeel M ，Lai CH ，Peng CW ... -  《Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation》

Does noninvasive brain stimulation combined with other therapies improve upper extremity motor impairment, functional performance, and participation in activities of daily living after stroke? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled

Ahmed I ，Mustafaoglu R ，Benkhalifa N ，Yakhoub YH ... -  《-》