Effects of Low-Frequency (0.5 Hz) and High-Frequency (10 Hz) Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Neurological Function, Motor Function, and Excitability of Cortex in Ischemic Stroke Patients.

BACKGROUND

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique. The purpose of our study is to explore the effects of low-frequency (0.5 Hz) and high-frequency (10 Hz) rTMS on neurological function, motor function, and excitability of cortex in Chinese ischemic stroke patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 240 ischemic stroke patients were collected. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), motor-evoked potential (MEP) cortical latency, central motor conduction time (CMCT), Fugel-Meyer assessment (FMA), Berg balance scale (BBS), and modified Barthel index (MBI) scores were recorded.

RESULTS

After treatment, the NIHSS, mRS, MEP cortical latency, CMCT, FMA, BBS, and MBI scores of the high-frequency group and low-frequency group were significantly improved than the sham stimulation group, and the changes in the low-frequency group were more significant (adjusted P <0.05). Compared with the sham stimulation group, high-frequency stimulation reduced the NIHSS score by 9.5%, mRS score by 12.6%, MEP latency by 2.5%, and CMCT by 5.8%, and increased the upper limb FMA scale by 16.4%, lower limb FMA scale by 8.8%, BBS by 26.3%, and MBI by 9.3%, while low-frequency stimulation reduced the NIHSS score by 23.8%, mRS score by 25.3%, MEP Latency by 11.7%, and CMCT by 9.1%, and increased the upper limb FMA scale by 24.1%, lower limb FMA scale by 18.4%, BBS by 27.4%, and MBI by 23.7% in our cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-frequency rTMS is better than high-frequency rTMS stimulation in improving neurological function, motor function, and excitability of cortex in ischemic stroke.