Low-Frequency rTMS over Contralesional M1 Increases Ipsilesional Cortical Excitability and Motor Function with Decreased Interhemispheric Asymmetry in Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Study
Table 2
Outcome measures ().
Outcome
Experimental group ()
Control group ()
Baseline
Week 2
Week 12
Change (week 2–baseline)
Change (week 12–week 2)
Change (week 12–baseline)
Baseline
Week 2
Week 12
Change (week 2–baseline)
Change (week 12–week 2)
Change (week 12–baseline)
FMA
46.7 (13.9)
52.3 (11.9)†
57.0 (9.6)‡
5.7 (4.3)#
4.7 (6.3)
10.2 (8.2)
48.8 (14.9)
49.9 (15.3)
53.3 (16.4)‡
1.2 (2.3)
3.3 (4.0)
4.5 (4.5)
MEP (paretic hand) (μV)
258.8 (278.0)
323.3 (279.5)
369.1 (244.6)
64.5 (104.7)#
45.8 (78.5)
110.3 (136.9)#
600.1 (374.6)
565 (371.7)
586 (384.9)
-35.1 (51.8)
21.9 (70.9)
-13.2 (72.3)
MEP (nonparetic hand) (μV)
316.8 (229.4)
301.8 (179.5)
258.4 (197.1)
-15.1 (219.1)
-43.3 (96.7)
-58.4 (264.6)#
693.5 (380.3)
886.4 (86.5)
1072.9 (72.9)
192.9 (326.5)
186.5 (422.0)
379.4 (414.7)
IHA
-0.39 (0.67)
-0.24 (0.62)
0.04 (0.55)‡
0.15 (0.27)#
0.27 (0.38)#
0.42 (0.47)#
-0.06 (0.39)
-0.15 (0.41)
-0.21 (0.41)‡
-0.09 (0.12)
-0.07 (0.15)
-0.15 (0.14)
Grip strength (kg)
12.6 (11.3)
13.9 (10.8)
15.4 (10.1)‡
1.3 (2.7)
1.5 (1.9)
2.8 (3.5)
13.8 (10.8)
13.9 (10.5)
14.4 (11.1)
0.1 (2.6)
0.5 (2.1)
0.6 (1.1)
ARAT
36.5 (17.8)
45.4 (11.4)†
51.1 (8.9)
8.9 (7.5)#
5.7 (9.5)
14.6 (14.9)#
41.1 (17.8)
41.1 (17.9)
43.2 (17.9)
0 (1.7)
2.1 (3.9)
2.1 (4.2)
NHPT: median (IQR)
351 (553)
71 (558)§
51 (85)
—
—
—
328 (565)
165 (573)§
142 (485)
—
—
—
Box and block test
17.2 (20.4)
32.3 (17.7)†
34.8 (14.8)
15.2 (14.6)#
2.5 (9.4)
17.7 (12.9)
33.8 (18.7)
34 (19.7)
41.8 (20.9)‡
0.2 (7.0)
7.8 (9.1)
7.9 (8.0)
Reaction time (ms)
985.8 (439.9)
902.2 (398.6)
837.3 (309.1)
-83.7 (131.5)
-64.8 (222.3)
-148.5 (301.1)
654.1 (285.5)
651.7 (285.4)
637.9 (291.2)
-2.5 (50.5)
-13.8 (132.0)
-16.3 (86.9)
Stroke Impact Scale
59.0 (13.3)
64.1 (8.5)
68.4 (6.9)‡
5.0 (7.5)
4.7 (6.3)
9.4 (9.1)
65.9 (10.3)
69.6 (11.2)†
72.7 (11.6)‡
3.6 (3.9)
3.1 (3.2)
6.7 (5.7)
Mean (SD) presented unless indicated otherwise; FMA: Fugl-Meyer assessment; MEP: motor-evoked potential; μV: microvolt; IHA: interhemispheric asymmetry; ARAT: Action Research Arm Test; NHPT: nine-hole peg test; IQR: interquartile range; for the 2-week intervention period ();†significant difference between baseline and week 2 (paired -test, );;‡significant difference between week 2 and week 12 (paired -test, );#significantly different from the control group (independent -test, );§significant difference between baseline and week 2 (Wilcoxon test, ).
