Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation improves severe upper limb paresis in early acute phase stroke survivors

BACKGROUND: It is very difficult for patients with severe upper extremity (UE) paresis after stroke to achieve full recovery because of the lack of a definitive approach for improving severe UE paresis immediately after onset. OBJECTIVE: to investigate the effects of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) on severe UE paresis during early acute phase of stroke. METHODS: Nineteen participants with severe UE disability met the criteria. 10 subjects received 15-20 minutes of rPMS prior to standard care per session, while 9 age- and severity-matched subjects received two times 20 minutes of standard care. Outcome measures included UE motor section of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment Scale (FMA-UE), Wolf motor function test (WMFT), and box and block test (BBT). RESULTS: The rPMS group received treatment (average sessions: 7.8) after a median 9.2 days from stroke (16.5 sessions after 5 days for control). To adjust the different treatment durations, we defined "progress rate" as the gains of UE function scores divided by treatment duration. The progress rate was significantly different in FMA-UE and WMFT, but not in BBT. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested beneficial effects of rPMS on severe UE paresis during early acute phase of stroke.