Table 1.
Characteristics of the included studies.
| Study Name | Sample size | Age (E/C) Mean ± SD/Median [IQR] (y) |
Sex (male/female) | Stroke duration (E/C) Mean ± SD/Median [IQR] |
Stroke type (ischemic/hemorrhage) | Frequency, Intensity, No. of pulses | On/Off (s) | Duration per session; Treatment duration | Coil type | Site | Control Intervention | Outcome Measures | Additional Intervention |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jiang 2022 | 24/20 | 54.62 ± 10.89 56.09 ± 16.59 |
27/17 | 13.81 ± 2.51 days 14.45 ± 3.33 days |
32/12 | 20 Hz, 15–30% MSO, 2400 | 0.5/2 | 20 min; daily, 14 days | Round | Triceps brachii and extensor digitorum muscles | No treatment | FM-UE BI RMS |
Conventional physiotherapy |
| Ke 2022 | 13/13 | 58 (46.5–63.0) 56 (46.5–61.5) |
14/12 | 17 (8.0–42.5) days 16 (4.5–22.0) days |
0/26 | 20 Hz, 40–60% MSO, 1800 | 1/19 | 30 min; daily, 10 days | Figure-of-eight | Axilla | Sham | FM-UE MRC |
Conventional treatments |
| Krewer 2014 | 31/32 | 55 ± 13 54 ± 13 |
38/25 | 26 ± 71 weeks 37 ± 82 weeks |
60 stroke/3 traumatic brain injury | 25 Hz, 10% above MCT, 5000 | 1/2 | 20 min; 2/day, 5/week, 2 weeks | Figure-of-eight | Extensors and flexors of the upper arm | Sham | FM-UE MTS |
Occupational therapy |
| Nahas 2022 | 25/11 | 47.88 ± 14.8 41.60 ± 14.9 |
27/9 | 42.74 ± 52.74 months 64.09 ± 67.07 months |
23 stroke/13 other diseases | 50 Hz, Above MCT, 600 | 2/8 | 1600 s; Daily, 8 days | Figure-of-eight | Biceps brachii, flexors of the wrist and fingers | Sham | MAS eBTD | – |
| Obayashi 2020 | 10/9 | 64.3 ± 13.1 72.3 ± 10.7 |
13/6 | 9.2 ± 4.4 days 5.8 ± 2.2 days |
16/3 | 30 Hz, 70% MSO, Not mentioned | 2/2 | 15–20 min; Daily, 5/week until transfer | Round | Deltoid, triceps brachii, extensor carpi radialis and extensor digitorum communis; biceps brachii and flexor digitorum superficialis (if applicable) | Standard care | FM-UE WMFT BBT |
Standard care |
BBT, box and block test; BI, Barthel Index; FM-UE, the upper-extremity motor section of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment Scale; eBTD: estimated Botulinum toxin dose; MAS, Modified Ashworth scale; MCT, muscle contraction threshold; MRC, Medical Research Council scale; MSO, maximal stimulator output; MTS, Modified Tardieu Scale; WMFT, Wolf motor function test.