Combining low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation with acupuncture in treating upper limb motor dysfunction after a stroke / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of combining repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) at low frequency with xing nao kai qiao acupuncture in the treatment of upper limb motor dysfunction after a stroke.Methods:Forty stroke survivors with upper limb motor dysfunction were randomly divided into a control group and a combination group, each of 20. All received basic neurological medication, conventional rehabilitation treatment, and xing nao kai qiao acupuncture. The combination group additionally received rTMS. Both groups were treated once a day, 5 days a week for 2 weeks consecutively. Before and after the treatment, both groups were evaluated using the Brunnstrom motor function stages, modified Ashworth spasticity grades, Fugl-Meyer upper limb motor function (FMA-UE) scoring, the modified Barthel index (MBI), and motor evoked potential (MEP) latency and amplitude.Results:The upper-limb and hand motor functioning of both groups improved significantly compared with before the treatment. The hand motor function staging of the combination group was then significantly better than among the control group. The average FMA-UE and MBI scores of both groups improved significantly, with significantly greater improvement in the combination group than in the control group. MEP latency and amplitude also improved significantly in both groups, with the average MEP latency and amplitude of the combination group superior to the control group′s averages.Conclusion:Supplementing xing nao kai qiao acupuncture with low-frequency rTMS can significantly improve the motor functioning, spasticity, and skill in the activities of daily living of stroke survivors with upper limb motor dysfunction.