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REVIEW article

Front. Neurosci.
Sec. Neural Technology
Volume 19 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1405637
This article is part of the Research Topic Innovative approaches to promote stroke recovery View all 18 articles

Exploring Cerebellar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Post-Stroke Limb Dysfunction Rehabilitation: A Narrative Review

Provisionally accepted
Zhan Wang Zhan Wang 1Likai Wang Likai Wang 1Fei Gao Fei Gao 1Yongli Dai Yongli Dai 1Chunqiao Liu Chunqiao Liu 2Jingyi Wu Jingyi Wu 1Mengchun Wang Mengchun Wang 1Qinjie Yan Qinjie Yan 1Yaning Chen Yaning Chen 1Litong Wang Litong Wang 1*
  • 1 Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
  • 2 Department of Neurology, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This review delves into the emerging field of cerebellar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in the rehabilitation of limb dysfunction following a stroke. It synthesizes findings from randomized controlled trials and case studies, examining the efficacy, safety, and underlying mechanisms of cerebellar TMS. The review outlines advancements in TMS technologies, such as low-frequency repetitive TMS, intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation, and Cerebello-Motor Paired Associative Stimulation, and their integration with physiotherapy. The role of the cerebellum in motor control, the theoretical underpinnings of cerebellar stimulation on motor cortex excitability, and the indirect effects on cognition and motor learning are explored. Additionally, the review discusses current challenges, including coil types, safety, and optimal timing and modes of stimulation, and suggests future research directions. This comprehensive analysis highlights cerebellar TMS as a promising, though complex, approach in stroke rehabilitation, offering insights for its clinical optimization.

    Keywords: cerebellar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, stroke rehabilitation, limb dysfunction, neuroplasticity, motor recovery

    Received: 23 Mar 2024; Accepted: 13 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Wang, Wang, Gao, Dai, Liu, Wu, Wang, Yan, Chen and Wang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Litong Wang, Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.