Anti-spastic effect of low-frequency rTMS applied with occupational therapy in post-stroke patients with upper limb hemiparesis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with occupational therapy (OT) on the spasticity of the hemiparetic upper limb after stroke. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study subjects were 39 post-stroke patients with spastic upper limb hemiparesis (age: 56.5 ± 16.0 years, time after onset: 50.3 ± 37.8 months). At admission, the severity of hemiparesis was categorized as Brunnstrom stage 3-5 for hand-fingers. During 15-day hospitalization, each patient received 22 sessions of low-frequency rTMS applied to the non-lesional hemisphere and OT (one-to-one training and self-training). The spasticity of finger and wrist flexors of the affected upper limb was evaluated using the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) on the day of admission and discharge and 4 weeks after discharge. Each subject underwent Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT). RESULTS: The low-frequency rTMS/OT protocol significantly decreased the MAS scores for both finger and wrist flexors at discharge and at 4 weeks after discharge. In addition, the low-frequency rTMS/OT protocol significantly increased the FMA score and shortened the WMFT performance time. CONCLUSIONS: The 15-day in-patient protocol of low-frequency rTMS/OT is potentially suitable for reducing spasticity as well as improving motor function on the affected upper limb after stroke.