[A primary study of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced muscle silent period(SP) in stroke patients with mild hemiparesis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the changes of muscle silent period (SP) induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and its value in the evaluation of motor function in patient with stroke.


METHODS
25 normals and 23 stroke patients with mild hemiparesis were involved in this study. A MES-10 magnetic stimulator and a 9 cm round coil were used to stimulate the brain at an intensity 50% above threshold for MEP with the subjects making sustained moderate contraction of the contralateral FDI. SP duration and interside ratio were measured and calculated and then compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
Normal values of SP duration and interside ratio were 145 +/- 37 ms and 1.01 +/- 0.15 respectively. The SP duration on the paralytic side in stroke patients was 423 +/- 314 ms, significantly prolonged in comparison with that on the normal side (154 +/- 54 ms, P < 0.05) and that of normal value (P < 0.01). The interside SP ratio (paralytic/normal side) in stroke patients was 2.8 +/- 1.9, also significantly higher than the normal value (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
SP might be a sensitive and valuable neurophysiological parameter in evaluation of the motor function of patients with central motor dysfunction.
Department of Neurology, People's Hospital, Beijing Medical University.
Y
Y
Sun
K
K
Xie
H
H
Liu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation