TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor and gait improvement in incomplete spinal cord injury patients
AU - Kumru, Hatice
AU - Benito, Jesus
AU - Murillo, Narda
AU - Valls-Sole, Josep
AU - Valles, Margarita
AU - Lopez-Blazquez, Raquel
AU - Costa, Ursula
AU - Tormos, Josep M.
AU - Pascual-Leone, Alvaro
AU - Vidal, Joan
PY - 2013/1/1
Y1 - 2013/1/1
N2 - Objective. Incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) patients have the potential to regain some ambulatory function, and optimal reorganization of remaining circuits can contribute to this recovery. We hypothesized that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may promote active recovery of motor function during gait rehabilitation. Methods. A total of 17 incomplete SCI patients were randomized to receive active rTMS or sham stimulation coupled with rehabilitation therapy; 3 patients who began in the sham group crossed over to the active rTMS group after a washout period of more than 3 weeks. Active rTMS consisted of 15 daily sessions over the leg motor area (at 20 Hz). We compared lower-extremity motor score (LEMS), 10-m walking test for walking speed, timed up and go, Walking Index for SCI Scale, Modified Ashworth Scale, and Spinal Cord Injury Spasticity Evaluation Tool at baseline, after the last session, and 2 weeks later in the active rTMS and sham stimulation groups. Results. A significant improvement was observed after the last rTMS session in the active group for LEMS, walking speed, and spasticity. Improvement in walking speed was maintained during the follow-up period. Sham stimulation did not induce any improvement in LEMS, gait assessment, and spasticity after the last session and neither during follow-up. Conclusion. In incomplete SCI, 15 daily sessions of high-frequency rTMS can improve motor score, walking speed, and spasticity in the lower limbs. The study provides evidence for the therapeutic potential of rTMS in the lower extremities in SCI rehabilitation. © The Author(s) 2013.
AB - Objective. Incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) patients have the potential to regain some ambulatory function, and optimal reorganization of remaining circuits can contribute to this recovery. We hypothesized that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may promote active recovery of motor function during gait rehabilitation. Methods. A total of 17 incomplete SCI patients were randomized to receive active rTMS or sham stimulation coupled with rehabilitation therapy; 3 patients who began in the sham group crossed over to the active rTMS group after a washout period of more than 3 weeks. Active rTMS consisted of 15 daily sessions over the leg motor area (at 20 Hz). We compared lower-extremity motor score (LEMS), 10-m walking test for walking speed, timed up and go, Walking Index for SCI Scale, Modified Ashworth Scale, and Spinal Cord Injury Spasticity Evaluation Tool at baseline, after the last session, and 2 weeks later in the active rTMS and sham stimulation groups. Results. A significant improvement was observed after the last rTMS session in the active group for LEMS, walking speed, and spasticity. Improvement in walking speed was maintained during the follow-up period. Sham stimulation did not induce any improvement in LEMS, gait assessment, and spasticity after the last session and neither during follow-up. Conclusion. In incomplete SCI, 15 daily sessions of high-frequency rTMS can improve motor score, walking speed, and spasticity in the lower limbs. The study provides evidence for the therapeutic potential of rTMS in the lower extremities in SCI rehabilitation. © The Author(s) 2013.
KW - functional improvement
KW - incomplete SCI
KW - rehabilitation
KW - transcranial magnetic stimulation
U2 - 10.1177/1545968312471901
DO - 10.1177/1545968312471901
M3 - Article
VL - 27
SP - 421
EP - 429
JO - Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
JF - Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
SN - 1545-9683
IS - 5
ER -