Electroencephalography Mu Rhythm Changes and Decreased Spasticity After Repetitive Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation in Patients Following Stroke

Shugeng Chen; Yang Li; Xiaokang Shu; Chuankai Wang; Hewei Wang; Li Ding; Jie Jia

doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.546599

Electroencephalography Mu Rhythm Changes and Decreased Spasticity After Repetitive Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation in Patients Following Stroke

Front Neurol. 2020 Sep 29:11:546599. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.546599. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Shugeng Chen¹, Yang Li², Xiaokang Shu³, Chuankai Wang¹, Hewei Wang¹, Li Ding¹, Jie Jia^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
² Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Jing'an District Central Hospital, Shanghai, China.
³ School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
⁴ National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Background: Spasticity is common among patients with stroke. Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) is a painless and noninvasive therapy that is a promising approach to reducing spasticity. However, the central mechanism of this therapy remains unclear. Changes in cortical activity and decreased spasticity after rPMS intervention require further exploration. The aim of this study was to explore the electroencephalography (EEG) mu rhythm change and decrease in spasticity after rPMS intervention in patients with stroke. Materials and methods: A total of 32 patients with spasticity following stroke were recruited in this study and assigned to the rPMS group (n = 16) or sham group (n = 16). The modified Ashworth scale, modified Tardieu scale, and Fugl-Meyer assessment of the upper extremity were used to assess changes in upper limb spasticity and motor function. Before and after the rPMS intervention, EEG evaluation was performed to detect EEG mu rhythm changes in the brain. Results: After one session of rPMS intervention, spasticity was reduced in elbow flexors (p < 0.05) and wrist flexors (p < 0.05). Upper limb motor function measured according to the Fugl-Meyer assessment was improved (p < 0.05). In the rPMS group, the power of event-related desynchronization decreased in the mu rhythm band (8-12 Hz) in the contralesional hemisphere (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results indicate that rPMS intervention reduced spasticity. Cortical activity changes may suggest this favorable change in terms of its neurological effects on the central nervous system.

Keywords: event-related desynchronization; laterality; mu rhythm; peripheral magnetic stimulation; spasticity; stroke.