Objective.—To evaluate the therapeutic effects of peripheral repetitive magnetic stimulation
(rMS) on recovery of traumatic brachial plexopathy.
Patients and methods.—Thirty-four patients with traumatic brachial plexopathy were studied.
Strength of different muscles of upper limbs was evaluated neurologically. Nerve conduction
studies (NCS), upper limb F-waves and visual analogue scales (VAS) for shoulder pain were
obtained for all patients. These were randomly assigned into two groups with a ratio of 2:1;
each patient received conventional physical therapy modalities and active exercises as well as
real or sham rMS applied over the superior trapezius muscle of the affected limb daily for 10
sessions. Patients were reassessed with the same parameters after the 5th and the 10th session,
and 1 month after rMS treatment.
Results.—No significant between-group differences were recorded at baseline assessment. Significant
improvement was observed (time X groups) after real rMS in comparison to the sham
group (P = 0.0001 for muscle strength and 0.01 for VAS of shoulder pain). These improvements
were still present at 1 month after the end of treatment. In accordance with the clinical
improvement, a significant improvement was recorded in the neurophysiological parameters
in the real vs the sham group.