Effects of strengthening exercise integrated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor function recovery in subacute stroke patients: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of strengthening exercise integrated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on motor function recovery in subacute stroke patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty subacute stroke patients were randomly assigned to three groups: an ankle strengthening exercise group (group I), ankle strengthening exercise integrated rTMS group (group II), or an rTMS group (control group (CG)). Study subjects received therapy five days per week for eight weeks. Motor-evoked potential testing, peak torque at the ankle joint, and 10 m walk test were performed before and after the eight-week treatment period. RESULTS: Subjects in group II showed significantly higher amplitude of MEP, plantarflexor and dorsiflexor of peak torque, 10 m walk test than groups I and CG (p < 0.05). Subjects in groups I and II differed significantly in the pre-and post-test for all variables, (p < 0.05). In the CG group, the pre-and post-test scores for the amplitude of MEP, dorsiflexor, and 10-walk test differed significantly (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Strengthening exercise integrated rTMS has positive effects on motor function recovery in subacute stroke patients.