Effects of motor imagery-based neurofeedback training after bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on post-stroke upper limb motor function: an exploratory crossover clinical trial
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v56.18253Keywords:
repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, rTMS, motor imagery, neurofeedback, stroke, motor cortex, upper limbAbstract
Objective: To examine the clinical effects of combining motor imagery-based neurofeedback training with bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for upper limb motor function in subacute and chronic stroke.
Design: Clinical trial following an AB/BA crossover design with counterbalanced assignment.
Subjects: Twenty individuals with subacute (n = 4) or chronic stroke (n = 16).
Methods: Ten consecutive sessions of bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation alone (therapy A) were compared vs a combination of10 consecutive sessions of bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with 12 non-consecutive sessions of motor imagery-based neurofeedback training (therapy B). Patients received both therapies (1-month washout period), in sequence AB or BA. Participants were assessed before and after each therapy and at 15-days follow-up, using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-upper limb, hand-grip strength, and the Nottingham Sensory Assessment as primary outcome measures.
Results: Both therapies resulted in improved functionality and sensory function. Therapy B consistently exhibited superior effects compared with therapy A, according to Fugl-Meyer Assessment and tactile and kinaesthetic sensory function across multiple time-points, irrespective of treatment sequence. No statistically significant differences between therapies were found for hand-grip strength.
Conclusion: Following subacute and chronic stroke, integrating bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and motor imagery-based neurofeedback training has the potential to enhance functional performance compared with using bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation alone in upper limb recovery.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Francisco José Sánchez Cuesta, Yeray González-Zamorano, Marcos Moreno-Verdú, Athanasios Vourvopoulos, Ignacio J. Serrano; Maria Dolores Del Castillo-Sobrino; Patrícia Figueiredo, Juan Pablo Romero
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Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
Grant numbers PID2020-113222RBC21/AEI/10.13039/501100011033