Clinical Research Directory

Impact of rTMS Combined With Neurorehabilitation on Lower Extremity Motor Function and Spasticity in Children With Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

Sponsor: Ankara City Hospital Bilkent

Summary

Cerebral palsy (CP) is widely recognized as the most prevalent cause of lifelong physical disability emerging in childhood across most global populations. While international data typically reports a prevalence ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 per 1,000 live births, in our specific national context, this rate is notably higher, reaching 4.4 per 1,000. CP is defined as a heterogeneous group of permanent disorders that fundamentally disrupt the development of movement and posture. These disruptions lead to significant activity limitations and are attributed to non-progressive disturbances occurring in the developing fetal or infant brain. Beyond primary motor impairments, CP is frequently characterized by a complex constellation of associated symptoms, including sensory and perceptual deficits, cognitive impairments, communication difficulties, behavioral challenges, epilepsy, and secondary musculoskeletal complications that develop over time.Among the various clinical presentations, diplegic CP stands out as the most common subtype of spastic CP, with prematurity identified as the leading etiological factor. In children diagnosed with spastic diplegia, all four extremities are typically involved; however, the clinical hallmark of this subtype is that the lower extremities are significantly more affected than the upper extremities. Despite this lower-body dominance, a loss of fine motor skills is frequently observed in the upper extremities as well. Most children with spastic diplegia face the risk of becoming significantly disabled due to these combined symptoms, a situation that exerts a profound and lasting impact on the quality of life for both the child and their entire family.This complex clinical picture underscores the critical importance of implementing a comprehensive and multidisciplinary CP rehabilitation program. Such programs must be initiated as early as possible, tailored to the child's specific age and functional status, and maintained throughout their entire lifespan. The planning of CP rehabilitation requires a highly individualized approach based on the unique needs of each patient. The ultimate and primary goal of these interventions is to facilitate the child's full participation in social life while maintaining the minimum possible level of physical and functional disability.In contemporary CP rehabilitation, a wide array of therapeutic modalities is employed. These include neurophysiological exercises, conventional physical therapy, gait training, orthotics, assistive devices, and pharmacological spasticity management. Furthermore, occupational therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, speech and swallowing therapy, hydrotherapy, and advanced robotic treatments-such as virtual reality applications and balance-training devices-are integrated into the patient's care plan. Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES), including specialized applications like FES cycling, and visual rehabilitation are also prescribed according to individual requirements.In addition to these traditional methods, recent research in pediatric neurology has increasingly focused on the efficacy of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation (NIBS) for various pediatric neurological disorders. For any therapeutic modality to demonstrate a truly effective and long-lasting impact, it must influence the brain's neuroplasticity over the long term. Theoretically, treatment methods that act directly on the cerebral cortex or specific neuronal populations may support nervous system development and correct dysfunction more effectively than traditional "bottom-up" approaches. While traditional methods rely on remodeling the central nervous system through peripheral organ stimulation, NIBS offers a "top-down" regulatory mechanism.One of the most promising novel diagnostic and therapeutic options in CP management is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a specific form of NIBS that has shown effectiveness in improving clinical outcomes for children. The fundamental objective of TMS is to stimulate neurons in targeted cortical regions and their associated networks through an intact skull using a magnetic coil. This technology modulates neuronal activity patterns: it achieves an inhibitory effect when applied at low frequencies (1-5 Hz) or an excitatory effect at high frequencies (5-20 Hz), thereby aiming to restore a healthy neuronal balance in the brain.Extensive clinical studies indicate that repetitive TMS (rTMS) can significantly improve motor function, reduce spasticity, enhance balance control, and even improve speech functions in CP patients. Although the relatively limited number of pediatric studies sometimes leads to hesitation regarding safety, current clinical evidence suggests that rTMS is a safe and well-tolerated intervention for children with CP. No serious adverse events have been reported in pediatric rTMS trials to date. Rare side effects, when they occur, are typically transient and mild, including minor headaches, neck pain, scalp

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