The effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation synchronizing treadmill training on thoracolumbar spinal cord injury

English Keywords:Spinal cord injury  Thoracolumbar  Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation  Treadmill training  Rehabilitation

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objective：To investigate the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation（rTMS） synchronizing treadmill training on neurofunction recovery of patients with incomplete thoracolumbar spinal cord injury（SCI）.Method：Thirty patients with T10-12 incomplete spinal cord injury（ASIA C） were recruited and randomly divided into rTMS group and control group.Routine rehabilitation exercises were performed in both groups，while additional rTMS was used in experimental group.Patients were assessed with ASIA motor score，ASIA sensory score，walking index for spinal cord injuryⅡ（WISCIⅡ） and functional independence measure（FIM） score before treatment and after 6 weeks.Result：There was no difference between two groups with regard to the clinical assessment（P>0.05） before treatment.After 6 weeks，ASIA motor score，WISCIⅡ and FIM score were noted improvement in rTMS group，which showed significant difference（P<0.05）.While in control group，only FIM score increased significantly（P<0.05）.Compared with control group，ASIA motor score and WISCIⅡ improved in rTMS group，which showed significant difference（P<0.05）.Conclusion：Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation synchronizing treadmill training can improve the motor function after incomplete thoracolumbar spinal cord injury.