Efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for improving lower limb function in individuals with neurological disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized sham-controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation vs sham stimulation on improving lower-limb functional outcomes in individuals with neurological disorders. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, CINAHL, Embase and Scopus databases were searched from inception to 31 March 2020 to identify papers (n = 1,198). Two researchers independently reviewed studies for eligibility. Randomized clinical trials with parallel-group design, involving individuals with neurological disorders, including lower-limb functional outcome measures and published in scientific peer-reviewed journals were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Two researchers independently screened eligible papers (n = 27) for study design, clinical population characteristics, stimulation protocol and relevant outcome measures, and assessed study quality. DATA SYNTHESIS: Studies presented a moderate risk of selection, attrition and reporting bias. An overall effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation was found for outcomes: gait (effect size [95% confidence interval; 95% CI]: 0.51 [0.29; 0.74], p = 0.003) and muscle strength (0.99 [0.40; 1.58], p = 0.001) and disorders: stroke (0.20 [0.00; 0.39], p = 0.05), Parkinson's disease (1.01 [0.65; 1.37], p = 0.02) and spinal cord injury (0.50 [0.14; 0.85], p = 0.006), compared with sham. No effect was found for outcomes: mobility and balance. CONCLUSION: Supplementary repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may promote rehabilitation focused on ambulation and muscle strength and overall lower-limb functional recovery in individuals with stroke, Parkinson's disease and spinal cord injury. Further evidence is needed to extrapolate these findings.

Feasibility and safety of 4 weeks of blood flow-restricted exercise in an individual with tetraplegia and known autonomic dysreflexia: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Blood flow-restricted exercise (BFRE) appears to hold considerable potential in spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation, due to its ability to induce beneficial functional changes and morphological alterations from low-intensity, low-load exercise. However, it remains unclear if this training approach is feasible and safe in individuals with autonomic dysreflexia (AD). CASE PRESENTATION: A 23-year-old male with traumatic, cervical (C6), motor-complete (AIS: B) SCI and diagnosed AD completed eight sessions of BFRE for the upper extremities over 4 weeks. Blood pressure and heart rate recordings and perceptual pain responses were collected repeatedly during exercise. Blood samples were drawn pre- and post-training. Training was carried out in a neurorehabilitation hospital setting with appertaining medical staff readiness, and was supervised by a physiotherapist with expertise in AD in general as well as prior knowledge of the present patient's triggers and symptoms. Four incidences of AD (defined as systolic blood pressure increase >20 mmHg) were recorded across all training sessions, of which one was symptomatic. The patient's blood profile did not change considerably from pre- to post-training sessions. Self-reported average pain during training corresponded from "mild" to "moderate". DISCUSSION: The patient was able to perform 4 weeks of BFRE, but encountered episodes of AD. Similarly, two AD episodes were registered during a single conventional, free-flow resistance training session. Evidence from clinically controlled safety studies is needed in order to establish if and how BFRE can be applied in a rehabilitation strategy in SCI individuals with neurological level of injury at or above T6 level.