rTMS in Spastic Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy Children

Prior to start of rTMS therapy, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) will be employed on the participants to classify gross motor function. Also, Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) scoring will be employed on the participants to access spasticity on selected muscles namely, hamstring, soleus, gastrocnemius and adductor of lower limb; and bicep, supinator and wrist extensor of upper limb. rTMS frequency of 10 Hz will be delivered to each of the participants in the study group for 15 minutes per session. Each session will be administered once daily for 2 days a week for 4 weeks. 1500 pulses (50 pulses per train with total 30 trains having inter- train delay of 25 seconds) per session will be provided with the coil placed on the contralateral primary motor cortex (M1) which is known to produce modulatory effect on muscle tightness of the limbs (Rajak et al. 2017). rTMS frequency of 10 Hz was kept constant based on previous studies with 5 Hz and 10 Hz (Anttila et al. 2008) (Rossi 2009). Each session will be followed by physical therapy (PT) according to physiotherapy protocol. After completion of therapeutic programs (after 4 weeks), the participants will be asked to undergo post assessment of Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) scoring on exactly the same muscles as recorded previously. Both PT and rTMS sessions will be administered by trained professionals who was kept blinded to the research protocols used in the study.