Efficiency of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy: Estimation Using Goniometry and Dinamometry

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a degenerative movement disorder involving gradual deterioration and death of specific brain areas. Extrapyramidal features (losing balance, frequent falls, and paralysis of vertical gaze) make daily life difficult for the individual. Novel rehabilitation techniques complementary to human or robotic rehabilitation methods in such cases are emerging. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is such a tool, which began to be used in the rehabilitation of motor disorders. We observed positive effects of rTMS (over the motor cortex area, 1.0 sec –1 , 20 min per day, for 5 days) on the motor functions in a PSP case using a mechanography approach (pre- and post-treatment goniometry and dynamometry). The respective measurements showed that rTMS led to noticeable increases in the angles of most tested movements of the upper and lower limbs of the patient and in the forces developed during such movements.