A research about development of new rehabilitation technique of motor function with brain magnetic stimulation in elder persons

目的：观察连续4d最大随意肌肉收缩(MVC)经颅磁刺激(TMS)训练对老年人运动神经元功能的影响，记录运动诱发电位(MEP)和最大捏合力。方法：在实验开始前，每隔15分钟记录4个MEP，直至训练开始后1小时(测试条件)。在对照条件下，除在第1天和第4天开始前和开始后1h外，均采用假TMS记录MEP。结果：两种条件下训练后，FDI肌和捏合肌的MEP波幅或面积均显著增加。在实验条件下，与对照条件相比，在实验条件下的第2天到第4天开始训练之前，捏合肌肉的力量有显著的增加。两组间MEP大小的变化无显著差异。结论：尽管本研究提示每日TMS加MVC对老年人肌力有促进作用，但我们还需要进一步的研究来证实TMS加MVC的这种作用。

Objective : To evaluate the effects of training by transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS) with maximum voluntary muscle contraction(MVC) for serial 4 days on motor neuron function in elder persons, motor evoked potentials(MEPs) and the maximum pinching muscle force were recorded sequentially.Methods : Four MEPs in the first digital interossei(FDI) muscle elicited by TMS during pinching a button-like strain-gauge transducer with maximum muscle force for 2 seconds were recorded before and at an each 15 minutes interval until 1 hour after starting the sessions(test condition). In a control condition, sham TMS was employed except that real TMS was delivered to record MEPs before and 1 hour after onsets of the sessions in Day 1 and 4.Results : MEP amplitudes or areas in FDI muscle and pinching muscle force were significantly increased after the sessions in the both conditions. Pinching muscle force tended to be significantly larger before starting the sessions from Day 2 to Day 4 in the test condition compared with the control condition. Changes of MEP sizes did not significantly differ between the groups.Conclusion : Although the present study suggests that daily TMS with MVC facilitates muscle power in elder persons, we need further studies to confirm this effect of TMS with MVC.