ArticleFrontiers in neurology2025
The effectiveness of intermittent theta burst stimulation for upper limb motor recovery after stroke: an exploratory randomized controlled trial.
Article in Frontiers in neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Completion rate and safety of non-invasive brain stimulation for upper limb dysfunction after stroke: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in neurology · 2026Pooled it
- Effects of non-invasive neural stimulation modalities on upper limb function in subacute stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in neurologyPooled it
- Multiscale Mechanisms that Underlie Intermittent Theta-burst Stimulation in Post-stroke Motor Recovery: From Molecular Signaling to Network Reorganization.Translational stroke research · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Stroke often results in significant motor impairments, particularly in the upper limbs, which can severely impact functional independence and quality of life. Conventional rehabilitation methods provide limited recovery, necessitating the exploration of adjunctive therapies to enhance motor function. Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) is a brain stimulation technique that has shown promise in improving motor function after stroke. This study was conducted to investigate whether iTBS targeting ipsilesional primary motor cortex can induce improvements of the paretic upper limb and physiological changes in cortical excitability in subacute stroke patients. Methods: 50 patients were randomized assigned to either iTBS or sham stimulation across 10 sessions. Motor function, symptom severity, muscle tone, and functional independence were evaluated. Additional measures included rest motor threshold (RMT), oxygenated hemoglobin concentration. Results: Both the iTBS and sham groups showed significant improvements in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (iTBS: Conclusion: These findings suggest that iTBS may offer additional benefits in improving functional task performance and cortical connectivity in subacute stroke patients. Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=193454, Identifier ChiCTR2300072415.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.