Stability of stereognosis after pediatric repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and constraint-induced movement therapy clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Poor sensibility affecting stereognosis, the ability to discriminate objects without visual input, can potentiate disuse of the paretic limb following stroke. The purpose of this study was to examine potential change in stereognosis after intervention.

METHODS: Stereognosis testing in a secondary subgroup of 10 children with hemiparesis and baseline stereognosis deficits (ages 11-16) after a 13-day clinical trial of real or sham repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is reported. All children received 10 h of CIMT while wearing a cast full-time.

RESULTS: Post-trial, 80% of participants from both intervention groups demonstrated improvement in stereognosis (95% CI: 44.4%-97.5%). Pre-trial to long-term follow-up (range: 21-57 months), 60% retained gains or improved (95% CI: 26.2%-87.8%). Between-group differences were not detected.

DISCUSSION: Children demonstrated stereognosis change following intervention. Research on this change and potential minimal clinically important differences are indicated.