AUTHOR=Chen Yi , Wei Qing-Chuan , Zhang Ming-Zhi , Xie Yun-Juan , Liao Ling-Yi , Tan Hui-Xin , Guo Qi-Fan , Gao Qiang TITLE=Cerebellar Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation Reduces Upper Limb Spasticity After Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neural Circuits VOLUME=15 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neural-circuits/articles/10.3389/fncir.2021.655502 DOI=10.3389/fncir.2021.655502 ISSN=1662-5110 ABSTRACT=

Objective: This study aims to explore the efficacy of cerebellar intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) on upper limb spasticity in subacute stroke patients.

Methods: A total of 32 patients with upper limb spasticity were enrolled and randomly assigned to treatment with cerebellar iTBS or sham stimulation before conventional physical therapy daily for 2 weeks. The primary outcomes included the modified Ashworth scale (MAS), the modified Tardieu scale (MTS), and the shear wave velocity (SWV). The secondary outcomes were the H-maximum wave/M-maximum wave amplitude ratio (H_max/M_max ratio), motor-evoked potential (MEP) latency and amplitude, central motor conduction time (CMCT), and the Barthel Index (BI). All outcomes were evaluated at baseline and after 10 sessions of intervention.

Results: After the intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in the MAS, MTS, SWV, and BI. In addition, patients treated with cerebellar iTBS had a significant increase in MEP amplitude, and patients treated with sham stimulation had a significant decrease in H_max/M_max ratio. Compared with the sham stimulation group, the MAS, MTS, and SWV decreased more in the cerebellar iTBS group.

Conclusion: Cerebellar iTBS is a promising adjuvant tool to reinforce the therapeutic effect of conventional physical therapy in upper limb spasticity management after subacute stroke (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900026516).