Testing spasticity mechanisms in chronic stroke before and after intervention with contralesional motor cortex 1 Hz rTMS and physiotherapy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Previous studies showed that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) reduces spasticity after stroke. However, clinical assessments like the modified Ashworth scale, cannot discriminate stretch reflex-mediated stiffness (spasticity) from passive stiffness components of resistance to muscle stretch. The mechanisms through which rTMS might influence spasticity are also not understood.

Methods

We measured the effects of contralesional motor cortex 1 Hz rTMS (1200 pulses + 50 min physiotherapy: 3×/week, for 4-6 weeks) on spasticity of the wrist flexor muscles in 54 chronic stroke patients using a hand-held dynamometer for objective quantification of the stretch reflex response. In addition, we measured the excitability of three spinal mechanisms thought to

SUBMITTER: Mahmoud W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10631065 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature