Effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation on unilateral spatial neglect and motor functions rehabilitation in patients with stroke

Objective To investigate the effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation on unilateral spatial neglect and motor functions rehabilitation in patients with stroke.Methods A total of 30 post-stroke patients with unilateral spatial neglect were divided into either a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS) group(n=15) or a control group(n=15) according to a random number table.The patients of rTMS group were treated with behavioral training methods(including visual scanning training,trunk rotation training,and cross-promote training,once for 15 min,twice a day;the conventional training once for 30 min,twice a day) and rTMS(the frequency of stimulation 0.5 Hz,an intensity of 90% of resting motor threshold,once for 15 min,twice a day),all for 2 weeks.The patients of the control group were treated with the behavior training only.The patients in both groups were evaluated with the line bisection test,line cancellation test,clock drawing test,simple Fugl-Meyer motor function assessment,and modified Barthel index before and after treatment.Results ①After treatment,the median line bisection test scores(median,range) in the rTMS group and the control group were 8.17(0-48.31) and 31.75(0-86.96) respectively;the median line cancellation test scores in the 2 groups were 0.005(0-0.333) and 1.333(0-5.667) respectively;the median clock drawing test scores in the 2 groups were 0(0-1) and 1(0-2) respectively.There were significant differences in each index score between the two groups(all P0.05).②After treatment,the median simple Fugl-Meyer motor function test scores in the rTMS group and the control group were 36(24-94) and 21(6-63) respectively.There was significant difference between the 2 groups(P=0.001);the median modified Barthel index scores in both groups were 45(30-65) and 40(10-60) respectively.There was significant difference between the two groups(P0.001).ConclusionTranscranial magnetic stimulation has significant effect on the unilateral spatial neglect in patients with stroke.Ipsilateral unilateral spatial neglect recovery after stroke contributes to the rehabilitation of motor function of the patients.