Effect of High- and Low-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Visuospatial Neglect in Patients With Acute Stroke: A Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial

This study was a prospective, double-blind, sham-controlled trial. Data are presented from 27 patients (15 men, 12 women; mean age, 67.0y) randomly assigned to receive 10 sessions of low-frequency (1Hz) rTMS over the nonlesioned PPC, high-frequency (10Hz) rTMS over the lesioned PPC, or sham stimulation.Setting: National university hospital.Participants: Patients (N=27) diagnosed with visuospatial neglect after stroke.Intervention: Ten sessions of rTMS over a 2-week period.Main Outcome Measures: The severity of visuospatial neglect was assessed pre- and posttreatment using the Motor-Free Visual Perception Test, line bisection test, star cancellation test, and Catherine Bergego Scale.Results: When comparing the differences in the Motor-Free Visual Perception Test, line bisection test, star cancellation test, Catherine Bergego Scale, and Korean-Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) scores before and after treatment according to group, we found that changes in the line bisection test and K-MBI scores were significantly different between 3 groups. In the post hoc analysis, the improvement in the line bisection test score in the high-frequency rTMS group was statistically significant compared with that in the sham stimulation group (high vs sham P=.03, low vs sham P=.09, high vs low P=.58), and the improvements in the K-MBI scores of the 2 rTMS groups were statistically significant compared with those in the sham stimulation group (high vs sham P
Source: Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Tags: Featured Articles Source Type: research