Effect of low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on lower limb muscle tension, motor function and walking ability in stroke stroke patients with hemiplegia

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on lower limb muscle tension, motor function and walking ability in stroke patients with hemiplegia. Methods Forty-eight patients with stroke hemiplegia in the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from February 2017 to March 2018 were randomly divided into control group and observation group, with 24 cases in each group. The control group was given routine rehabilitation therapy, and the observation group was given low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation based on the treatment of control group. After 4 weeks of continuous treatment, the combined spasmodic scale (CSS), the Fugl-Meyer scale lower limb part (FMA), the Berg balance scale (BBS) and the 10 m fastest walking speed test (10 m MWS) assessed the patient’s lower extremity muscle tension, motor function and walking ability. Results After 4 weeks of treatment, the scores of knee extensor muscle, knee flexor, CSS, FMA, BBS and 10 m MWS in the observation group were better than those in the control group (P all<0.05). The scores of knee extensor muscles, knee flexors and BBS after treatment were better than those before the treatment in the control group(P all<0.05). The scores of lower limbs after treament were better than those before treatment in the observation group, and the differences were significant (P all<0.05). Conclusions Low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation can effectively improve the lower limb muscle tension, motor function and walking ability of stroke patients with hemiplegia, and it is worthy of clinical application. Key words: Stroke; Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; Low freguency; Muscle tension; Motor function; Walking ability