A meta-analysis of the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation on hand function and daily living ability after...

To compare the effects of different schemes of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on hand function and activities of daily living in stroke patients through meta-analysis.

Randomized controlled trials were retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases for the time period from the time of construction to October 2023. Two researchers independently screened the articles and extracted data. Data analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 and Stata 14.0 software.

A total of 29 studies with a total of 1294 patients were included, involving 5 measures including low frequency combined with high frequency rTMS (LF-HF rTMS), low frequency rTMS (LF-rTMS), high frequency rTMS (HF-rTMS), theta burst stimulation (TBS) and conventional therapy. Wolf motor function test (WMFT) results showed that the effect of LF-rTMS group was significantly higher than that of conventional group (P < .05), and the ranking was better than that of TBS group and HF-rTMS group. The grip strength results showed that the effect of each group was better than that of the conventional group, although the difference was not significant, and the LF-HF rTMS group was the best. The results of modified barthel index (MBI) and Fugl-Meyer assessment of upper extremity (FMA-UE) showed that the treatment effect of LF-HF rTMS group was significant (P < .05), and the effect was the best in each group.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation has a good improvement effect, and the LF-rTMS group has a better effect in the treatment of hand function. The LF-HF rTMS regimen combined with 2 kinds of magnetic stimulation has the best ranking in improving grip strength, activities of daily living and upper limb function, which has great application potential.