Ana Dionísio1, Isabel Catarina Duarte2, Miguel Patrício3, Miguel Castelo-Branco4. 1. Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (CNC.IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. 2. Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (CNC.IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. 3. Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (CNC.IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Laboratory of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. 4. Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (CNC.IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Laboratory of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Brain Imaging Network, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: mcbranco@fmed.uc.pt.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Stroke is a leading cause of disability. Alternative and more effective techniques for stroke rehabilitation have been sought to overcome limitations of conventional therapies. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) arises as a promising tool in this context. This systematic review aims to provide a state of the art on the application of rTMS in stroke patients and to assess its effectiveness in clinical rehabilitation of motor function. METHODS: Studies included in this review were identified by searching PubMed and ISI Web of Science. The search terms were (rTMS OR "repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation") AND (stroke OR "cerebrovascular accident" OR CVA) AND (rehab OR rehabilitation OR recover*). The retrieved records were assessed for eligibility and the most relevant features extracted to a summary table. RESULTS: Seventy out of 691 records were deemed eligible, according to the selection criteria. The majority of the articles report rTMS showing potential in improving motor function, although some negative reports, all from randomized controlled trials, contradict this claim. Future studies are needed because there is a possibility that a bias for non-publication of negative results may be present. CONCLUSIONS: rTMS has been shown to be a promising tool for stroke rehabilitation, in spite of the lack of standard operational procedures and harmonization. Efforts should be devoted to provide a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms and protocol standardization.
OBJECTIVES:Stroke is a leading cause of disability. Alternative and more effective techniques for stroke rehabilitation have been sought to overcome limitations of conventional therapies. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) arises as a promising tool in this context. This systematic review aims to provide a state of the art on the application of rTMS in strokepatients and to assess its effectiveness in clinical rehabilitation of motor function. METHODS: Studies included in this review were identified by searching PubMed and ISI Web of Science. The search terms were (rTMS OR "repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation") AND (stroke OR "cerebrovascular accident" OR CVA) AND (rehab OR rehabilitation OR recover*). The retrieved records were assessed for eligibility and the most relevant features extracted to a summary table. RESULTS: Seventy out of 691 records were deemed eligible, according to the selection criteria. The majority of the articles report rTMS showing potential in improving motor function, although some negative reports, all from randomized controlled trials, contradict this claim. Future studies are needed because there is a possibility that a bias for non-publication of negative results may be present. CONCLUSIONS: rTMS has been shown to be a promising tool for stroke rehabilitation, in spite of the lack of standard operational procedures and harmonization. Efforts should be devoted to provide a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms and protocol standardization.
Authors: Alyson R Plecash; Amokrane Chebini; Alvin Ip; Joshua J Lai; Andrew A Mattar; Jason Randhawa; Thalia S Field Journal: Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep Date: 2019-11-13 Impact factor: 5.081
Authors: Camarin E Rolle; Fiona M Baumer; Joshua T Jordan; Ketura Berry; Madelleine Garcia; Karen Monusko; Hersh Trivedi; Wei Wu; Russell Toll; Marion S Buckwalter; Maarten Lansberg; Amit Etkin Journal: BMC Neurol Date: 2021-07-16 Impact factor: 2.474