Effect of intensive motor training with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on upper limb motor function in chronic post-stroke patients with severe upper limb motor impairment

AbstractBackground Intensive motor training with low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has efficacy as a therapeutic method for motor dysfunction of the affected upper limb in patients with mild to moderate stroke. However, it is not clear whether this combination therapy has the same effect in chronic post-stroke patients with severe upper limb motor impairment.Objectives The aim of this study was to test the treatment effects of intensive motor training with low-frequency rTMS in chronic post-stroke patients with severe upper limb motor impairment.Methods A convenience sample of 26 chronic post-stroke patients with severe upper limb motor impairment participated in this study with the non-randomized, non-controlled clinical trial. All subjects were hospitalized to receive intensive motor training with low-frequency rTMS. During 2 weeks in which Sundays were excluded, a total of 24 sessions (2 sessions per day) of the intervention were conducted. The Fugl–Meyer Assessment (FMA...