Effects of 10 ㎐ High Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Somatosensory Training for Recovery of Upper Limb Motor and Hand Function in Chronic Stroke Patients

The paper was to investigate the effects of a combination of 10-㎐ high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and somatosensory training (SST) on upper limb motor and hand function in chronic stroke patients. Upper limb motor and hand function were evaluated using Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), manual functions test (MFT), and pinch, grasping strength. The results revealed that there was a significant difference in FMA and MFT before and after the SST after 10-㎐ high-frequency rTMS (p<0.05). The experimental group showed a significant improvement in FMA and pinch strength compared to the control group (p<0.05). There was no significant improvement between MFT and grasping strength between the groups (p>0.05). Thus, 10-㎐ high-frequency rTMS, combined with SST, can be considered to be an effective treatment for the recovery of upper limb motor and hand function in chronic stroke patients.