High-Frequency Ipsilesional versus Low-Frequency Contralesional Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation after Stroke: Differential Effects on Ipsilesional Upper Extremity Motor Recovery.

Background and Objectives: Stroke is a major cause of death and disability worldwide; therefore, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is being widely studied and clinically applied to improve motor deficits in the affected arm. However, recent studies indicate that the function of both arms can be affected after stroke. It currently remains unknown how various TMS methods affect the function of the ipsilesional upper extremity. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five subacute stroke patients with upper extremity motor deficits were enrolled in this study and randomly allocated into three groups, receiving either (1) low-frequency rTMS over the contralesional hemisphere; (2) high-frequency rTMS over the ipsilesional hemisphere; or (3) no stimulation. Experimental groups received 10 rTMS sessions over two weeks alongside standard rehabilitation, and the control group received the same procedures except for rTMS. Both affected and unaffected upper extremity motor function was evaluated using hand grip strength and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) tests before and after rehabilitation (7 weeks apart). Results: All groups showed significant improvement in both the affected and unaffected hand grip and FIM scores (p < 0.05). HF-rTMS led to a notably higher increase in unaffected hand grip strength than the control group (p = 0.007). There was no difference in the improvement in affected upper extremity motor function between the groups. The FIM score increase was lower in the control group compared to experimental groups, although not statistically significant. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the positive effect of ipsilesional HF-rTMS on the improvement in unaffected arm motor function and reveals the positive effect of both LF- and HF-rTMS on the affected upper extremity motor function recovery.

Correction: Vabalaite et al. Effects of High-Frequency (HF) Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on Upper Extremity Motor Function in Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review. Medicina 2021, 57, 1215.

In the original publication [...].

Effects of High-Frequency (HF) Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on Upper Extremity Motor Function in Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review.

Background and Objectives: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is being widely used for treating upper extremity paresis after stroke, however, evidence of applying high-frequency rTMS (HF-rTMS) on the ipsilesional hemisphere for upper extremity motor recovery remains limited. This systematic review aimed to investigate the effect of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for upper extremity motor function recovery after a first-time ischaemic stroke. Materials and Methods: This systematic review was prepared according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify all studies published before 12 February 2021. The search was performed on the following databases: PubMed, Ovid, The Cochrane Library. Results: A total of 6440 studies were found in the databases and four trials were included in the review. Three of the studies were randomized control trials (RCT), and one was a pseudo-RCT. Three of the studies showed good methodological quality and one study was rated as excellent. Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) was performed in three out of four studies and the score significantly increased in the HF-rTMS treatment group compared with sham stimulation in all trials. Other measures used in the studies were handgrip strength, shoulder abduction, Motricity Index, Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), and Box and Block, although these tests did not show unanimous results. Overall, all four studies conveyed significantly better results in at least one test that was performed for hand motor function evaluation in a 10 Hz stimulation group while none of the tests showed any advantage for sham stimulation groups. Two studies reported headache as an adverse event (six patients in total). Conclusion: The overall results showed that HF-rTMS may increase impaired upper extremity motor function better than sham stimulation in stroke patients.

Changes and Associations between Cervical Range of Motion, Pain, Temporomandibular Joint Range of Motion and Quality of Life in Individuals with Migraine Applying Physiotherapy: A Pilot Study.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of physiotherapy with aerobic exercise together with temporomandibular joint range of motion exercises (supervised) and physiotherapy with aerobic exercise only (unsupervised), also to review the correlations between neck movements, pain, temporomandibular joint range of motion movements and quality of life in individuals with migraine. Methods: The flexion, extension and lateral flexion of the cervical spine were measured in degrees with a mechanical goniometer and pressure pain thresholds with algometer. Quality of life was assessed with the SF-36 questionnaire and temporomandibular joint range of motion with a centimeter. Results: The study showed statistically significant cervical flexion results in both groups (p < 0.05), masticatory muscle results and temporomandibular joint range of motion between the groups (p < 0.05). A correlation between left upper trapezius muscle pain and cervical lateral flexion was observed in the intervention group. Physical activity correlated with cervical extension, activity limitation due to physical ailments and general health. A correlation between temporomandibular joint and right-side masticatory muscles pain was found. A correlation between upper trapezius muscle pain and left- as well as right-side temporalis muscles were found in the control group. Strong correlations were found between pain and activity limitation due to physical ailments and emotional state. The temporomandibular joint range of motion strongly correlated with activity limitation due to physical ailments. Conclusions: Physiotherapy based on aerobic exercises together with temporomandibular joint exercises was more effective than physiotherapy based on aerobic exercise for decreasing pain, increasing pressure pain thresholds and cervical range of motion.

Stroke Patients Motivation Influence on the Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Individuals who have experienced stroke are often described as apathetic, having lost of interest, and unmotivated. This might be a problem in achieving treatment results. It is still unclear what impact age and gender have on the motivation. THE AIM OF RESEARCH: To evaluate motivation influence on the effectiveness of occupational therapy in patients with stroke. METHODS: Study included 30 patients who experienced acute stroke. Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scale has been used for motivation assessment. Internal persons' motivation was evaluated to determine how much a person believes that his recovery depends on his own behaviour and external persons' motivation-how a person relates his state of health to the impact of the surrounding people. Performance of daily activities was assessed using Functional Independency Measure (FIM). RESULTS: At the beginning of rehabilitation of the patients with stroke, external motivation was greater than the internal one. At the end of rehabilitation internal motivation has increased by 1.8±0.4 points, while the external motivation decreased by 2.4±0.6 points (p<0.05). At the beginning of rehabilitation patients independence in activities of daily living assessed with FIM was 70.0±2.9 points. At the end of rehabilitation their ability to perform daily activities improved by 26.9±1.9 points and reached 96.9±2.7 points (p<0.05). We found statistically significant (p<0.05) moderate correlation (r=0.72) between patients internal motivation at the beginning of the rehabilitation and increase of independence after rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: Older patients had lower internal motivation than younger ones, and independence in daily activities improvement was influenced by younger age and by brain damage depth.

Balance evaluation techniques and physical therapy in post-stroke patients: A literature review.

A stroke (cerebrovascular accident - CVA) is a significant social-economic issue. Approximately 15-30% of all patients develop life-long disability, 20% require over 3 months of specialized care in healthcare institutions, and the majority of the patients never recover the ability to maintain a proper vertical position. Such CVA sequelae as balance disturbances not only negatively affect patients' daily physical activity, but also result in social isolation. A number of standardized clinical scales, tests, and instrumental examination techniques have been proposed for evaluating not only post-CVA balance function, but also any changes in this function following various interventions. Even though scientific literature lists numerous methods and instruments for the improvement of balance after a CVA, not all of them are equally effective, and there have been rather controversial evaluations of some techniques. Nevertheless, the application of the majority of the techniques as complementary or alternative measures to traditional physical therapy (PT) frequently yields better results.

The impact of physical therapy in patients with severe traumatic brain injury during acute and post-acute rehabilitation according to coma duration.

[Purpose] The aim of study was to evaluate the impact of physical therapy on the recovery of motor and mental status in patients who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury, according to coma duration in acute and post-acute rehabilitation. [Subjects and Methods] The study population comprised patients with levels of consciousness ranging from 3 to 8 according to Glasgow Coma Scale score. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on coma duration as follows: group 1, those who were in a coma up to 1 week, and group 2, those who were in a coma for more than 2 weeks. The recovery of the patients' motor function was evaluated according to the Motor Assessment Scale and the recovery of mental status according to the Mini-Mental State Examination. [Results] The evaluation of motor and mental status recovery revealed that the patients who were in a coma up to 1 week recovered significantly better after physical therapy during the acute rehabilitation than those who were in a coma for longer than 2 weeks. [Conclusion] The recovery of motor and mental status of the patients in acute rehabilitation was significantly better for those in a coma for a shorter period.

Effects of implant angulation, material selection, and impression technique on impression accuracy: a preliminary laboratory study.

The aim of this preliminary laboratory study was to evaluate the effects of 5- and 25-degree implant angulations in simulated clinical casts on an impression's accuracy when using different impression materials and tray selections. A convenience sample of each implant angulation group was selected for both open and closed trays in combination with one polyether and two polyvinyl siloxane impression materials. The influence of material and technique appeared to be significant for both 5- and 25-degree angulations (P < .05), and increased angulation tended to decrease impression accuracy. The open-tray technique was more accurate with highly nonaxially oriented implants for the small sample size investigated.

[Evaluation of sensorimotor reactions during early rehabilitation for patients after cerebral stroke]. / Ligoniu, persirgusiu galvos smegenu insultu, sensomotoriniu reakciju vertinimas ankstyvosios reabilitacijos laikotarpiu.

Early inpatient rehabilitation is extremely important in functional improvement of patients suffering from cerebral stroke. From our point of view, in rehabilitation of patients after cerebral stroke, the estimation of sensorimotor reactions that enables the evaluation of sensorimotor functional changes is highly relevant. The article describes the comparison of sensorimotor reactions in two subgroups - stroke patients and healthy individuals - by applying Sensoneck system. The evaluation was performed before early stage of rehabilitation and thereafter (following early rehabilitation). In order to estimate the correlation between changes in functional independence and sensorimotor reactions, Functional Independence Measure was used. The study revealed that stroke patients had sensorimotor dysfunctions. During early rehabilitation, the quality of motion performance improved slightly, and sensorimotor reactions improved statistically significantly (P<0.05). The relationship between Functional Independence Measure and Sensoneck scores was not significant (P>0.05).