Effectiveness of Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation to Enhance Upper Extremity Recovery after Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: To first investigate the effectiveness of modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (mCIMT) in low-functioning patients with stroke (PwS). Second, we aimed to investigate the efficiency of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS), applied on intermittent days, in addition to the mCIMT in PwS. DESIGN: Randomized, sham-controlled, single-blinded study. SETTING: Outpatient clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen PwS (age 66.3 ± 9.2 years (mean ± SD); 53% female) who were in the first 1-12 months after the incident were included in the study. INTERVENTIONS: PwS were divided into 3 groups: 1) mCIMT alone, 2) mCIMT + sham iTBS, and 3) mCIMT + iTBS. Each group received fifteen sessions of mCIMT (1 hour/session, 3 sessions/week). iTBS was applied with 600-pulses on impaired M1 prior to mCIMT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Upper extremity (UE) impairment was assessed with the Fugl-Meyer Test (FMT-UE), while the motor function was evaluated with the Wolf-Motor Function Test (WMFT). Motor Activity Log-28 (MAL-28) was used to evaluate the amount of use (AUS) and how well (HWS) the impaired UE movements. RESULTS: With-in-group analysis revealed that all groups had statistically significant improvements based on the FMT-UE and MAL-28 (p<0.05). However, the performance time and arm strength variables of WMFT were only increased in the mCIMT + iTBS group (p<0.05). The only between-group difference was observed in the intracortical facilitation in favor of the mCIMT + iTBS group (p<0.05). The effect size of iTBS was f=0.18. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that mCIMT with and without the application of iTBS has increased the UE motor function in low-functioning PwS. iTBS applied on intermittent days may have additional benefits as an adjunct therapy for facilitating cortical excitability, increasing the speed and strength of the impaired UE as well as decreasing disability.

Effect of upper limb focal muscle vibration on cortical activity: A systematic review with a focus on primary motor cortex.

This systematic review aimed to investigate the effects of upper extremity focal muscle vibration (FMV) on cortical activity. A systematic literature search was conducted for articles published in English in the SCOPUS, PEDro, PUBMED, REHABDATA, MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases. Eighteen studies (6 controlled and 12 experimental studies) were included in the systematic review. A total of 264 individuals (20 to 68 years) participated in the studies. The outcome of this review showed that FMV might have contradictory effects on cortical areas: (a) Reduction of cortical activity in the primary motor cortex (M1) and somatosensory cortex (S1), (b) no changes in the cortical activity of M1, and (c) increased cortical activity of M1 and S1. These effects may depend on different factors such as frequency and amplitude of FMV, vibration exposure time, and muscle status. However, no single factor can definitely be accounted for the variance.

Inspiratory Muscle Training in Late-Onset Pompe Disease: The Effects on Pulmonary Function Tests, Quality of Life, and Sleep Quality.

INTRODUCTION: Late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is characterized by progressive skeletal and respiratory muscle weakness. Little is known about the effect of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on pulmonary function in subjects with LOPD. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of an 8-week IMT program on pulmonary function tests, quality of life, and sleep quality in eight patients with LOPD who were receiving enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). METHODS: Before and after the IMT program, spirometric measurements in sitting and supine positions, and measurements of maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures, peak cough flow, quality of life (assessed using the Nottingham Health Profile), and sleep quality (assessed using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index) were performed. RESULTS: A significant increase in maximum inspiratory pressure (cmH2O and % predicted) (median [interquartile range]: 30.0 cmH2O [21.5-48] versus 39 cmH2O [31.2-56.5] and 38.3 % [28.1-48.4] versus 50.5 % [37.7-54.9]) was observed after training (p = 0.01). There were no significant changes in the other pulmonary function measurements. With the exception of the social isolation subscore (p = 0.02), quality of life subscores did not change after IMT (p > 0.05). Sleep quality subscores and total scores were similar before and after IMT. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that IMT has a positive effect on maximum inspiratory pressure in subjects with LOPD who are under ERT.

The effects of very early mirror therapy on functional improvement of the upper extremity in acute stroke patients.

[Purpose] The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a very early mirror therapy program on functional improvement of the upper extremity in acute stroke patients. [Subjects] Eight stroke patients who were treated in an acute neurology unit were included in the study. [Methods] The patients were assigned alternatively to either the mirror therapy group receiving mirror therapy and neurodevelopmental treatment or the neurodevelopmental treatment only group. The primary outcome measures were the upper extremity motor subscale of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Motricity Index upper extremity score, and the Stroke Upper Limb Capacity Scale. Somatosensory assessment with the Ayres Southern California Sensory Integration Test, and the Barthel Index were used as secondary outcome measures. [Results] No statistically significant improvements were found for any measures in either group after the treatment. In terms of minimally clinically important differences, there were improvements in Fugl-Meyer Assessment and Barthel Index in both mirror therapy and neurodevelopmental treatment groups. [Conclusion] The results of this pilot study revealed that very early mirror therapy has no additional effect on functional improvement of upper extremity function in acute stroke patients. Multicenter trials are needed to determine the results of early application of mirror therapy in stroke rehabilitation.

Priming constraint-induced movement therapy with intermittent theta burst stimulation to enhance upper extremity recovery in patients with stroke: protocol for a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: The treatments based on motor control and motor learning principles have gained popularity in the last 20 years, as well as non-invasive brain stimulations that enhance neuroplastic changes after stroke. However, the effect of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) in addition to evidence-based, intensive neurorehabilitation approaches such as modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) is yet to be investigated. AIM: We aim to establish a protocol for a randomized controlled study investigating the efficiency of mCIMT primed with iTBS after stroke. METHODS: In this randomized controlled, single-blind study, patients with stroke (N = 17) will be divided into 3 groups: (a) mCIMT + real iTBS, (b) mCIMT + sham iTBS, and (c) mCIMT alone. 600-pulse iTBS will be delivered to the primary motor cortex on the ipsilesional hemisphere, and then, patients will receive mCIMT for 1 h/session, 3 sessions/week for 5 weeks. Upper extremity recovery will be assessed with Fugl-Meyer Test-Upper Extremity and Wolf Motor Function Test. Electrophysiological assessments, such as Motor-Evoked Potentials, Resting Motor Threshold, Short-Intracortical Inhibition, and Intracortical Facilitation, will also be included. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a protocol of an ongoing intervention study investigating the effectiveness of iTBS on ipsilesional M1 prior to the mCIMT in patients with stroke is proposed. This will be the first study to research priming mCIMT with iTBS and it may have the potential to reveal the true effect of the iTBS when it is added to the high-quality neurorehabilitation approaches. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration number: NCT05308667.

Enhancement of motor skill acquisition by intermittent theta burst stimulation: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze the effects of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) on motor skill acquisition of healthy subjects when applied on alternate days to ensure high adherence to treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten healthy participants (40-54 years) were included in the study. The control group (CG) (60% female) only received motor training (i.e., finger tapping task-FTTa), whereas the experimental group (EG) (100% female) received iTBS in addition to the motor training (every other day for 5 sessions). Cortical excitability measurements were taken with TMS. The correct sequences of the finger tapping test (FTTe) were recorded for behavioral analysis. RESULTS: While SICI was increased by 0.03 in EG, ICF was increased by 0.18 between pre-and post-treatment. On the other hand, CG had a lower ICF difference (MD: 0.05) and a higher SICI difference (MD: 0.21). There was no difference between EG and CG in FTTe at the end of the intervention (p > 0.05 for all variables), except for the increased number of correct sequences within the EG (p = 0.018). There was a significant difference in FTTa between EG and CG, in favor of EG (p = 0.042). The effect size was 0.62. CONCLUSION: Although no difference was found in terms of cortical excitability and FTTe between the EG and CG at the end of the alternate-day treatment, it seemed like iTBS increased cortical facilitation further than CG. Furthermore, the number of correct sequences in FTTe and FTTa was significantly increased in EG, showing that intermittent iTBS might improve motor learning and performance.

Bobath Concept versus constraint-induced movement therapy to improve arm functional recovery in stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of the Bobath Concept and constraint-induced movement therapy on arm functional recovery among stroke patients with a high level of function on the affected side. DESIGN: A single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Outpatient physiotherapy department of a stroke unit. SUBJECTS: A total of 24 patients were randomized to constraint-induced movement therapy or Bobath Concept group. INTERVENTION: The Bobath Concept group was treated for 1 hour whereas the constraint-induced movement therapy group received training for 3 hours per day during 10 consecutive weekdays. MAIN MEASURES: Main measures were the Motor Activity Log-28, the Wolf Motor Function Test, the Motor Evaluation Scale for Arm in Stroke Patients and the Functional Independence Measure. RESULTS: The two groups were found to be homogeneous based on demographic variables and baseline measurements. Significant improvements were seen after treatment only in the 'Amount of use' and 'Quality of movement' subscales of the Motor Activity Log-28 in the constraint-induced movement therapy group over the the Bobath Concept group (P = 0.003; P = 0.01 respectively). There were no significant differences in Wolf Motor Function Test 'Functional ability' (P = 0.137) and 'Performance time' (P = 0.922), Motor Evaluation Scale for Arm in Stroke Patients (P = 0.947) and Functional Independence Measure scores (P = 0.259) between the two intervention groups. CONCLUSIONS: Constraint-induced movement therapy and the Bobath Concept have similar efficiencies in improving functional ability, speed and quality of movement in the paretic arm among stroke patients with a high level of function. Constraint-induced movement therapy seems to be slightly more efficient than the Bobath Concept in improving the amount and quality of affected arm use.