| Objective: To observe the effects of the repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on spasticity and motor function of the patients with stroke. Methods: A total of 40 inpatients with stroke were randomly divided into treatment group and sham group. All patients received conventional rehabilitation intervention. In the treatment group, 20 patients received 1 Hz rTMS over the contralesional motor cortex (unaffected side), and 20 patients in sham group received sham stimulation. Two groups were treated once a day, 6 times a week, a total of 4 weeks of treatment. All outcomes were assessed at the beginning of the treatment (T0), at the end of the 4th-week treatment (T1) and at the end of the 2nd-week follow-up (T2). Both groups were assessed with Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Upper Limb Fugl-Meyer Assessment (ULFMA), Barthel Index (BI), Motor Evoked Potential (MEP) and upper limb F wave. Results: After treatment for 4 weeks, MAS scores were significantly decreased, and BI and ULFMA scores were significantly increased in the treatment group (P<0.05). Moreover, the effects lasted for more than 2 weeks after the end of the final intervention. The amplitude of MEP in treatment group was significantly higher than that in the sham group (P<0.05). But no significant difference was found in MEP at T2. There was no significant difference between the two groups in F wave amplitude and latency. Conclusion: Low frequency rTMS can decrease the upper limb spasticity of patients with stroke. The possible mechanisms might be related to the positive changes of the cortical excitability in affected hemisphere. |
