TABLE 2.
Characteristics of the included studies in this meta‐analysis.
| Reference | Type of NIBS | DS intervention group | Comparation group | Outcome measure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fleming et al. (2017) | tDCS | The anode was placed over ipsilesional M1 and the cathode over contralesional M1. |
Anodal tDCS: anodal to ipsilesional M1 and the cathode over the contralateral supraorbital ridge, 1 mA 0.04 mA/cm2 Cathodal tDCS: cathodal to contralesional M1 the anode was placed over ipsilesional M1 and the cathode over contralesional M1. Sham |
JTT |
| Long et al. (2018) | TMS |
1 Hz rTMS to the cM1 followed by 10 Hz rTMS to the iM1 With an interstimulus interval of 50 seconds. 90% RMT, 1000 pulses, 15 sessions |
LF‐rTMS: cM1, 1 Hz, 90% RMT, 1000 pulses, 15 sessions Sham: The coil was held at an angle of 90° to the scalp |
FMA‐UL WMFT |
| Taud et al. (2021) | tDCS | Active anode placed over the iM1 and a smaller active cathode was placed over the cM1. 0.03 mA/cm2,23 min, 5 sessions |
Anodal tDCS: active anode placed over the iM1 and the cathode was placed over the contralesional supraorbital ridge. Sham: the electrode set‐up was pseudo‐randomly assigned to participants (either anodal or dual) and balanced across the group. |
FMA‐UL WMFT |
| Cai (2020) | TMS | cM1, 1 Hz, 90% RMT, 1000 pulse, 24 sessions and iM1, 10 Hz, 90% RMT, 1000 pulses, 24 sessions |
LF‐rTMS: cM1, 1Hz, 90% RMT, 1000 pulses, 24 sessions HF‐rTMS: iM1, 10 Hz,90% RMT, 1000 pulses, 24 sessions |
FMA‐UL |
| Cao et al. (2022) | TMS |
iTBS applied to contralateral cerebellar cortex and iM1 separately, an interval of 5s was set between these two stimulations. iTBS: 80%∼100% RMT, repetitive bursts of 3 stimuli at a frequency of 50 Hz repeated at 5 Hz,600 pulses, 24 sessions |
iTBS: iM1, 80%∼100% RMT, 600 pulses, 24 sessions | FMA‐UL ARAT |
| Ren et al. (2018) | TMS | cM1,80%RMT, 1 Hz, 3000 pulses, 14 sessions and iM1,80%RMT, 5 Hz, 3000 pulses, 14 sessions | iM1, 80%RMT, 5 Hz, 3000 pulses, 14 sessions | FMA‐UL |
| Hsu et al. (2021) | tDCS | iM1 anode and cM1 cathode, 0.08 mA/cm2, 20 min, 20 sessions | Sham: tDCS settings were similar except that the direct current ceased after 2 min. | FMA‐UL ARAT |
| Kim (2021) | tDCS | iM1 anodal electrode, and the cM1 cathodal electrode, 1 mA, 20 min, 20 sessions | Sham: no current flows | FMA‐UL |
| Lindenberg et al. (2010) | tDCS | Anodal tDCS to iM1 and cathodal tDCS to cM1, 0.09 mA/cm2, 30 min, 5 sessions | Sham: The current was ramped up to 1.5 mA and slowly decreased over 30 seconds | FMA‐UL WMFT |
| Ji (2014) | TMS | cM1, 1 Hz, 80–100%RMT, 900 pulses and iM1, iTBS, 80–120%RMT, 15 min, 30 sessions | Sham: The coil was held at an angle of 90° to the scalp | FMA‐UL |
Abbreviations: ARAT: Action Research Arm Test; FMA‐UL: Fugl‐Meyer Assessment upper limb; JTT: Jebsen‐Taylor Hand Function Test; LF‐rTMS: low‐frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; tDCS: transcranial direct current stimulation; WMFT: Wolf Motor Function Test.