Author/Authors :
Ahadi Tannaz نويسنده Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Akhavan Hejazi Seyed Majid نويسنده Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya , Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Akhavan Hejazi Seyed Majid , Forogh Bijan نويسنده Department of Physical Medicine and Rrehabilitation, Firuzgar Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran. Forogh Bijan , Nazari Maryam نويسنده , Sajadi Simin نويسنده Neuromusculoskeletal Research Center, Firoozgar Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Sajadi Simin , Abdul Latif Lydia نويسنده Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Abdul Latif Lydia , Raissi Gholamreza نويسنده Neuromusculoskeletal Research Center, Firoozgar Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Raissi Gholamreza
Abstract :
Introduction: Balance impairment is a common problem and a major cause of motor disability after stroke. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether low-frequency repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) improves the postural balance problems in stroke patients.
Methods: This randomized double blind clinical trial with 12 weeks follow-up was conducted on stroke patients. Treatment was carried with 1 Hz rTMS in contralateral brain hemisphere over the primary motor area for 20 minutes (1200 pulses) for 5 consecutive days. Static postural stability, Medical Research Council (MRC), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Fugl-Meyer assessments were evaluated immediately, 3 weeks and 12 weeks after intervention.
Results: A total of 26 patients were enrolled (age range=53 to 79 years; 61.5% were male) in this study. Administering rTMS produced a significant recovery based on BBS (df=86, 7; F=7.4; P=0.01), Fugl-Meyer Scale (df=86, 7; F=8.7; P<0.001), MRC score (df=87, 7; F=2.9; P=0.01), and static postural stability (df=87, 7; F=9.8; P<0.001) during the 12 weeks follow-up.
Conclusion: According to the findings, rTMS as an adjuvant therapy may improve the static postural stability, falling risk, coordination, motor recovery, and muscle strength in patients with stroke.
