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An Experiment Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Robot-Assisted Multi-Joint Pointing Movements of the Lower Limb
Published on: June 7, 2024
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy study of intermittent theta burst stimulation on lower-limb motor dysfunction
Rui Jiang1, Shuang Gong1, Yu Zhao1
1Department of Rehabilitation, Ningbo Rehabilitation Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Objectives:
Stroke is characterized by high morbidity and high disability rate, and is the main cause of long-term disability. To evaluate the efficacy of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) on patients with lower limb motor dysfunction after stroke through functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity Motor Function Scale, and analyze the activation of each channel of the cerebral cortex through fNIRS.
Methods:
Sixty-six patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to a control group (n = 33) or an iTBS treatment group (n = 33). The control group was given basic rehabilitation treatment and sham stimulation of iTBS, while the treatment group was given basic rehabilitation treatment and real stimulation of iTBS.
Results:
After treatment, when comparing the treatment group and the control group, there was a statistically significant difference in the scores of the Fugl-Meyer Lower Limb Motor Function Assessment Scale. After 4 weeks of treatment, when comparing the treatment group and the control group, there were statistically significant differences in task-related activation in channels over the ipsilesional premotor cortex (PMC) and primary motor cortex (M1), and the contralesional primary somatosensory cortex (S1) (p < 0.05). In the treatment group, task-related activation in channels over ipsilesional PMC and M1 and contralesional S1 was also significantly increased compared with baseline (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
iTBS has a certain curative effect in the treatment of lower limb dysfunction after stroke. On fNIRS, increased activation was observed in channels over ipsilesional PMC and M1 and contralesional S1.
