Function-specific repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for fine motor rehabilitation in chronic stroke: a...

Although repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been widely used in the treatment of post-stroke hemiparesis, its efficacy in restoring fine motor function of the hand remains limited, largely because of a lack of specificity in target selection. This study presents the case of a 61-year-old female chronic stroke patient who showed significant improvement in hand fine motor function following an 8-week intervention using function-specific rTMS guided by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The patient previously experienced multiple lacunar infarctions in the bilateral basal ganglia and centrum semiovale and received the intervention 4 years after the stroke. Following treatment, substantial improvements were observed in fine motor function, with electrophysiological and MRI findings indicating a trend toward restored interhemispheric functional balance. This case highlights a novel therapeutic approach for patients who have shown limited responses to conventional rehabilitation.