Effects of strengthening exercise integrated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor function recovery in subacute stroke patients: A randomized controlled trial
Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, College of Tourism and Health Science, Joongbu University, Chungnam, Keumsan, Korea | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Daegu University, Jillyang, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, Korea
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Myoung Kwon Kim, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Daegu University, Jillyang, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 712-714, Korea. Tel.: +82 538504352; Fax: +82 536504359; E-mail:skybird-98@hanmail.net
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of strengthening exercise
integrated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on motor
function recovery in subacute stroke patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty subacute stroke patients were randomly
assigned to three groups: an ankle strengthening exercise group (group I),
ankle strengthening exercise integrated rTMS group (group II), or an rTMS
group (control group (CG)). Study subjects received therapy five days per
week for eight weeks. Motor-evoked potential testing, peak torque at the
ankle joint, and 10 m walk test were performed before and after the
eight-week treatment period. RESULTS: Subjects in group II showed significantly higher amplitude
of MEP, plantarflexor and dorsiflexor of peak torque, 10 m walk test than
groups I and CG (p < 0.05). Subjects in groups I and II differed
significantly in the pre- and post-test for all variables, (p < 0.05). In
the CG group, the pre- and post-test scores for the amplitude of MEP,
dorsiflexor, and 10-walk test differed significantly (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Strengthening exercise integrated rTMS has positive
effects on motor function recovery in subacute stroke patients.
Keywords: Motor recovery, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, stroke
