Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation as an adjunct to constraint-induced therapy: an exploratory randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To test the potential adjuvant effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on motor learning in a group of stroke survivors undergoing constraint-induced therapy (CIT) for upper-limb hemiparesis.


METHODS
This was a prospective randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, parallel group study. Nineteen individuals, one or more years poststroke, were randomized to either a rTMS + CIT (n = 9) or a sham rTMS + CIT (n = 10) group and participated in the 2-wk intervention.


RESULTS
Regardless of group assignment, participants demonstrated significant gains on the primary outcome measures: the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and the Motor Activity Log (MAL)--Amount of Use, and on secondary outcome measures including the Box and Block Test (BBT) and the MAL--How Well. Participants receiving rTMS failed to show differential improvement on either primary outcome measure.


CONCLUSIONS
Although this study provided further evidence that even relatively brief sessions of CIT can have a substantial effect, it provided no support for adjuvant use of rTMS.
Malcolm
Matthew P
MP
Department of Occupational Therapy and NeuroRehabilitation Research Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Triggs
William J
WJ
Light
Kathye E
KE
Gonzalez Rothi
Leslie J
LJ
Wu
Sam
S
Reid
Kimberly
K
Nadeau
Stephen E
SE
D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D010291:Paresis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
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