ABSTRACT
To study the efficacy of repetitive bilateral arm training with rhythmic auditory cueing [BATRAC] on motor recovery in stroke patients clinically and electrophysiologically. Forty patients with chronic hemiplegia were included in the study. All patients participated in BATRAC [3 sessions/week] for six weeks. The upper extremity functional performance was evaluated by the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Motor Performance [FMUEMP] and grip strength. Transcranial magnetic stimulation [TMS] was used to elicit MEP to the abductor digiti minimi. Functional performance and MEP were recorded before and after BATRAC. Following BATRAC there were improvement in functional performance [FMUEMP and grip strength], decrease in TMS threshold, decrease in the central motor conduction time and increase in MEP amplitude. These changes were significant [p<0.01]. Besides, there was a significant positive correlation between pre-rehabilitation MEP amplitudes and the improvement in FMUEMP. BATRAC for 6 consecutive weeks has been proven effective in improving both functional performance [of the paretic upper extremity] and MEP parameters in chronic stroke patients suggesting that functional improvement might has been secondary to central motor excitability changes