The effects of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation on spasticity and motor function in patients with spastic hemiparesis as add-on in neuro-rehabilitation

Introduction: An innovative therapy option to reduce pathological muscle tone and to stimulate cortical reorganization after stroke is repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rpMS), generating repetitive contraction-relaxation cycles and enhancing proprioceptive input from the affected extremity. Only a few recent studies (Struppler et al. 2001, 2003) investigated short-term effects in patients with spastic muscle tone and demonstrated a reduced spasticity and an enhanced motor performance.