Long-Term Paired Associative Stimulation Enhances Motor Output of the Tetraplegic Hand.

ABSTRACT: A large proportion of spinal cord injuries (SCI) are incomplete. Even in clinically complete injuries, silent non-functional connections can be present. Therapeutic approaches that can strengthen transmission in weak neural connections to improve motor performance are needed. Our aim was to determine whether long-term delivery of paired associative stimulation (PAS, a combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation [TMS] with peripheral nerve stimulation [PNS]) can enhance motor output in the hands of patients with chronic traumatic tetraplegia, and to compare this technique with long-term PNS. Five patients (4 males; age 38-68, mean 48) with no contraindications to TMS received 4 weeks (16 sessions) of stimulation. PAS was given to one hand and PNS combined with sham TMS to the other han

SUBMITTER: Tolmacheva A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5610384 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature