The effects of reciprocal inhibition on motor function and brain functional network connectivity of stroke patients / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of reciprocal inhibition on motor function connectivity in the brains of stroke patients.Methods Thirty patients with stroke were randomly divided into a treatment group (n =15) and a control group (n =15).The control group underwent normal limb positioning,medium frequency electrotherapy,circulated compression of the limbs,etc.The treatment group received conventional rehabilitation treatment plus reciprocal inhibition treatment for 30 min daily,6 times a week for 4 weeks.All of the patients were assessed before and after treatment using the Canadian neurological scale (CNS),the Frenchay activities index (FAI),the motricity index (MI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging of the motor cortex in a resting state (rs-fMRI).Results In both groups the average CNS,FAI and MI scores improved significantly.Compared with the control group,the changes in FAI and MI scores in the treatment group improved significantly more.The coefficient of functional connectivity of the bilateral motor cortex decreased significantly after treatment in both groups.In the treatment group the motor cortex functional connectivity correlated significantly with the improvements in MI scores.Conclusions Reciprocal inhibition can accelerate the improvement of extremity motor function and ability in the activities of daily living significantly after stroke.It reduces functional connectivity in the bilateral motor cortex in ways significantly correlated with improvements in motor function.