The effectiveness of intermittent theta burst stimulation for upper limb motor recovery after stroke: an exploratory randomized controlled trial

作者：Songbin Chen, Xiaotong Li, Wenqing Yang, Guiyuan Cai, Shunxi Zhang, Yujie Chen, Wenyu Chen, Frank Kulwa, Huangjie Huang, Lanfang Xie, Lingling Tian, Yangkang Zeng, Hai Li · 发表于：Frontiers in Neurology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3389/fneur.2025.1634277 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies、Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery、EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces

Background Stroke often results in significant motor impairments, particularly in the upper limbs, which can severely impact functional independence and quality of life. Conventional rehabilitation methods provide limited recovery, necessitating the exploration of adjunctive therapies to enhance motor function. Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) is a brain stimulation technique that has shown promise in improving motor function after stroke. This study was conducted to investigate whether iTBS targeting ipsilesional primary motor cortex can induce improvements of the paretic upper limb and physiological changes in cortical excitability in subacute stroke patients. Methods 50 patients were randomized assigned to either iTBS or sham stimulation across 10 sessions. Motor function, symptom severity, muscle tone, and functional independence were evaluated. Additional measures included rest motor threshold (RMT), oxygenated hemoglobin concentration. Results Both the iTBS and sham groups showed significant improvements in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (iTBS: p = 0.002; sham: p = 0.039), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) (iTBS: p < 0.001; sham: p = 0.005), and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) (iTBS: p < 0.001; sham: p = 0.002) scores post-intervention. Only the iTBS group demonstrated significant improvements in Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) ( p < 0.001), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) ( p < 0.001), and RMT ( p = 0.016). The iTBS group...