Navigated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in post-stroke rehabilitation: a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study

Abstract

Navigated rTMS is characterized by a great accuracy of localizingthe stimulated area, which opens up new prospects forneuroplasticity modulation. We conducted an interventionalrandomized double-blind sham-controlled study to evaluate theeffectiveness of navigated rTMS in post-stroke rehabilitation.We found that low-frequency stimulation reliably reduces severityof motor deficit and increases the Barthel Index of Activitiesof Daily Living. High-frequency stimulation reduces spasticity(Ashworth Scale) and severity of central post-stroke pain syndrome.Navigated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulationeffectively supplements the conventional rehabilitation of poststrokepatients. Compared to routine TMS, the use of navigatedrTMS enables effective control of the neuroplastic processes andprovides new opportunities in development of personalized neurorehabilitationprograms.

Keywords

• navigated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
• post-stroke rehabilitation