Effects of paired associated stimulation with different stimulation position on motor cortex excitability and upper limb motor function in patients with cerebral infarction

Objective To investigate the effects of paired associated stimulation (PAS) with different stimulation position on motor cortex excitability and upper limb motor function in patients with cerebral infarction. Method A total of 120 volunteers with cerebral infarction were randomly divided into four groups. Based on conventional rehabilitation treatment, the PAS stimulation group was given the corresponding position of PAS treatment once a day for 28 consecutive days. The MEP amplitude and RMT of both hemispheres were assessed before and after treatment, and a simple upper limb Function Examination Scale (STEF) score, simplified upper limb Fugl–Meyer score (FMA), and improved Barthel Index (MBI) were used to assess upper limb motor function in the four groups. Results Following PAS, the MEP amplitude decreased, and the RMT of abductor pollicis brevis (APB) increased on the contralesional side, while the MEP amplitude increased and the RMT of APB decreased on the ipsilesional side. After 28 consecutive days the scores of STEF, FMA, and MBI in the bilateral stimulation group were significantly better than those in the ipsilesional stimulation group and the contralesional stimulation group, but there was no significant difference in the scores of STEF, FMA, and MBI between the ipsilesional stimulation group and the contralesional stimulation group. Conclusion The excitability of the motor cortex can be changed when the contralesional side or the ipsilesional side was given the corresponding PAS stimulation, while the bilateral PAS stimulation can more easily cause a change of excitability of the motor cortex, resulting in better recovery of the upper limb function.