| Objective: To observe the effectiveness of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with action-observation therapy (AOT) for non-fluent aphasia after stroke. Methods: A total of 32 patients with non-fluent aphasia after stroke were divided into low-rTMS group and combined group by random number table method. Both groups were given routine rehabilitation intervention (including drug treatment, language training and limb rehabilitation training, etc.), patients in the low-rTMS group were additionally given low-frequency rTMS treatment, and those in the combined group were subjected to AOT on the basis of low-rTMS group. TMS was located in the Broca mirror region of the right cerebral hemisphere, with a frequency of 1 Hz. During the AOT, the patients wore VR glasses, the mouth movements of 180 words and the motion videos observed, and they repeated at the same time. The CRRCAE was used to evaluate the speech function and improvement of the patients before and 4 weeks after treatment. The severity of aphasia before and after treatment was graded by the practical language communication skills checklist (CADL), and significant and effective rate was calculated. Results: After 4 weeks of treatment, the CRRRCAE score in low-rTMS group showed significant improvement in listening comprehension, retelling, expression, reading and total points (P<0.01); all CRRCAE scores in the combined group were significantly improved as compared with those before treatment (P<0.01); the scores of CRRCAE in the combined group were significantly higher than those in the low-rTMS group (P<0.01); The effective rate in the combined group was significantly higher than that in the low-rTMS group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The low-frequency rTMS combined with AOT can significantly improve language function in patients with non-fluent aphasia after stroke. |
