title: Therapeutic effects of peripheral magnetic stimulation on traumatic brachial plexopathy: clinical and neurophysiological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the therapeutic effects of peripheral repetitive magnetic stimulation (rMS) on recovery of traumatic brachial plexopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four patients with traumatic brachial plexopathy were studied. Strength of different muscles of upper limbs was evaluated neurologically. Nerve conduction studies (NCS), upper limb F-waves and visual analogue scales (VAS) for shoulder pain were obtained for all patients. These were randomly assigned into two groups with a ratio of 2:1; each patient received conventional physical therapy modalities and active exercises as well as real or sham rMS applied over the superior trapezius muscle of the affected limb daily for 10 sessions. Patients were reassessed with the same parameters after the 5th and the 10th session, and 1 month after rMS treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant between-group differences were recorded at baseline assessment. Significant improvement was observed (time X groups) after real rMS in comparison to the sham group (P=0.0001 for muscle strength and 0.01 for VAS of shoulder pain). These improvements were still present at 1 month after the end of treatment. In accordance with the clinical improvement, a significant improvement was recorded in the neurophysiological parameters in the real vs the sham group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrate that peripheral rMS for 10 sessions may have positive therapeutic effects on motor recovery and pain relief in patients with traumatic brachial plexopathy. Therefore, it is a useful adjuvant in the therapy of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt. emankhedr99@yahoo.com
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Khedr
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: E A M
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Alkady
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mostafa
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Said
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010147:Pain Measurement; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult