rTMS Over Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Augments Dual-Task Training for Mobility, Balance and Cognition in Sub-Acute...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Stroke significantly impacts mobility, balance, and cognitive functions.
• Sub-acute stroke rehabilitation aims to restore these functions.
• Dual-task (DT) training is a common rehabilitation strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of adding repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) combined with DT exercise.
• To assess the impact on DT mobility, balance, and cognitive performance in sub-acute stroke patients.

Main Methods:

• Thirty sub-acute stroke patients were randomized into an experimental (rTMS + DT) or sham group.
• rTMS or sham stimulation was applied to the ipsilesional DLPFC for 2 weeks.
• Intervention was followed by DT training, with assessments before and after.

Main Results:

• The rTMS group showed significant improvements in Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) test under both single-task (ST) and DT conditions.
• Improvements in gait parameters and cognitive tasks (verbal fluency with walking) were observed in the rTMS group.
• The rTMS group also demonstrated better gains in balance and cognitive assessments (MoCA, BESTest, ABC).

Conclusions:

• Combining rTMS to the DLPFC with DT training is a feasible and effective strategy.
• This intervention augments DT walking performance, balance, and cognitive function in sub-acute stroke.
• It offers a promising approach for improving real-world mobility in stroke rehabilitation.