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Effect of combined low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and virtual reality training on upper limb function in subacute stroke: a double-blind randomized controlled trail

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Summary

The effect of combined low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF rTMS) and virtual reality (VR) training in patients after stroke was assessed. In a double-blind randomized controlled trial, 112 patients with hemiplegia after stroke were randomly divided into two groups: experimental and control. In experimental group, the patients received LF rTMS and VR training treatment, and those in control group received sham rTMS and VR training treatment. Participants in both groups received therapy of 6 days per week for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint including the upper limb motor function test of Fugl-meyer assessment (U-FMA) and wolf motor function test (WMFT), and the secondary endpoint including modified Barthel index (MBI) and 36-item Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) were assessed before and 4 weeks after treatment. Totally, 108 subjects completed the study (55 in experimental group and 53 in control group respectively). After 4-week treatment, the U-FMA scores [mean difference of 13.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.6 to 22.7, P<0.01], WMFT scores (mean difference of 2.9, 95% CI 2.7 to 12.3, P<0.01), and MBI scores (mean difference 16.1, 95% CI 3.8 to 9.4, P<0.05) were significantly increased in the experimental group as compared with the control group. The results suggested the combined use of LF rTMS with VR training could effectively improve the upper limb function, the living activity, and the quality of life in patients with hemiplegia following subacute stroke, which may provide a better rehabilitation treatment for subacute stroke.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China

    Chan-juan Zheng  (郑婵娟) & Wei-jing Liao  (廖维靖)

  2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hubei Xinhua Hospital, Wuhan, 430015, China

    Chan-juan Zheng  (郑婵娟) & Wen-guang Xia  (夏文广)

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  1. Chan-juan Zheng  (郑婵娟)
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  2. Wei-jing Liao  (廖维靖)
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  3. Wen-guang Xia  (夏文广)
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Correspondence to Wei-jing Liao  (廖维靖).

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Zheng, Cj., Liao, Wj. & Xia, Wg. Effect of combined low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and virtual reality training on upper limb function in subacute stroke: a double-blind randomized controlled trail. J. Huazhong Univ. Sci. Technol. [Med. Sci.] 35, 248–254 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-015-1419-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-015-1419-0

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