Zifko 2002.

Study characteristics
Methods	Study design: RCT Study grouping: parallel group
Participants	18 participants after stroke with spastic hemiparesis (mean age 60.8 years; 9 women, 9 men; 3 to 12 months after stroke)
Interventions	Intervention characteristics Active rPMS Frequency: 20 Hz Intensity: 40% of maximal stimulator output Stimulation session: train duration of 20 seconds, and intertrain interval of 12 seconds Duration of stimulation (per session): 240 seconds Number of stimulations (per session): 4000 pulses Number of sessions in treatment: 20 (1 time a day, 5 times a week, for 4 weeks) Target of stimulation: extensors digitorum communis muscles Co‐exercise: none Sham rPMS Frequency: 20 Hz Intensity: 0% (used placebo coil that produced a similar noise without the magnetic field) Stimulation session: train duration of 3 seconds, and intertrain interval of 3 seconds Duration of stimulation (per session): 240 seconds Number of stimulations (per session): 4000 pulses Number of sessions in treatment: 20 (1 time a day, 5 times a week, for 4 weeks) Target of stimulation: extensors digitorum communis muscles Co‐exercise: none
Outcomes	Upper limb function: angle of motion for hand extension and hand flexion (degree) Outcome type: continuous Direction: higher is better Assessment time point: unclear Upper limb function: Action Research Arm Test (scores range from 0 to 57 points) Outcome type: continuous Direction: higher is better Assessment time point: unclear Upper limb function: Bard and Hirschberg Score Outcome type: continuous Direction: higher is better Assessment time point: unclear Spasticity: Ashworth Score (scores range from 0 to 4) Outcome type: ordinal Direction: lower is better Assessment time point: after intervention Spasticity: Gerstenbrand Spasticity Rating Scale Outcome type: continuous Direction: lower is better Assessment time point: unclear
Identification	Sponsorship source: n/a Country: Austria Setting: n/a Authors' names: Zifko UA, Morph M, Diem K, Havel PM, Struppler A Institution: Rehabilitationsklinik Pirawarth, Bad Pirawarth, Austria Email: n/a Address: n/a
Notes
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	No information
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	No information
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	The abstract states "double‐blind study". However, there was no information on blinding for personnel.
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	The abstract states "double‐blind study".
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Loss to follow‐up 11%
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	Protocol was not available.
Other bias	Low risk	No other biases

CNS: central nervous system
CT: computed tomography
ITT: intention‐to‐treat
MRI: magnetic resonance imaging
n/a: not applicable
RCT: randomised controlled trial
rPMS: repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation