title: The Effectiveness of 1 Hz rTMS Over the Primary Motor Area of the Unaffected Hemisphere to Improve Hand Function After Stroke Depends on Hemispheric Dominance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Inhibition of motor cortex excitability of the contralesional hemisphere may improve dexterity of the affected hand after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 patients (17 dominant hemispheric stroke, 23 non-dominant hemispheric stroke) with a mild to moderate upper limb motor impairment were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with two parallel-groups. Both groups received 15 daily sessions of motor training preceded by either 1 Hz rTMS or sham rTMS. Behavioral and neurophysiological evaluations were performed at baseline, after the first week and after the third week of treatment, and after a 6 months follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both groups motor function of the affected hand improved significantly. Patients with stroke of the non-dominant hemisphere made a similar improvement, regardless of whether the motor training was preceded by sham or 1 Hz rTMS. Patients with stroke of the dominant hemisphere had a less favorable improvement than those with stroke of the non-dominant hemisphere after motor training preceded by sham rTMS. However, when 1 Hz rTMS preceded the motor training, patients with stroke of the dominant hemisphere made a similar improvement as those with stroke of the non-dominant hemisphere.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Motor recovery of the affected upper limb after stroke is determined by dominance of the affected hemisphere. Stroke of the dominant hemisphere is associated with per se poorer improvement of the affected hand. 1 Hz rTMS over the contralesional M1 significantly improves dexterity of the affected hand in patients with stroke of the dominant hemisphere, but not in those with stroke of the non-dominant hemisphere.
authors.affiliation: Helios Klinik Kipfenberg, Neurologische Fachklinik, Kipfenberg, Germany. Electronic address: jpodubec@post.cz.
authors.forename: Jitka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lüdemann-Podubecká
authors.affiliation: Helios Klinik Kipfenberg, Neurologische Fachklinik, Kipfenberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bösl
authors.affiliation: Helios Klinik Kipfenberg, Neurologische Fachklinik, Kipfenberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Theilig
authors.affiliation: Helios Klinik Kipfenberg, Neurologische Fachklinik, Kipfenberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wiederer
authors.affiliation: Helios Klinik Kipfenberg, Neurologische Fachklinik, Kipfenberg, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Philips-University, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Dennis Alexander
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Nowak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
keywords: Hand dominance; Motor impairment; Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; Stroke; Upper limb