Background : Both low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and intensive occupational therapy (OT) have been recently reported to be clinically beneficial for post-stroke patients with upper limb hemiparesis. We have already reported that the function of the paralyzed upper limb in the post-stroke hemiplegic patients was improved after a 15-day hospitalization protocol, named NEURO-15. In this present study, we investigated whether two courses (2X) of NEURO-15 were superior to a single one in therapeutic efficacy. Methods: During NEURO-15, each patient was scheduled to receive 21 treatment sessions of 20-min low-frequency rTMS followed by 120-min intensive OT daily. Low-frequency pulses of 1 Hz were applied to the motor cortex of the nonlesional hemisphere. Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), log performance time of the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) were evaluated on the days of admission and discharge. The first NEURO-15 was given to 16 apoplectic hemiplegic patients whose Brunnstrom Recovery Stage in their fingers ranged from IV to V. After an average of 13.6 months, the second NEURO-15 was administered to all 16 patients. Results : The 2X protocol was completed by all patients without any adverse effects. After the first course of NEURO-15, all patients showed improvement in their paralyzed upper limb function ; improvements which remained until the second NEURO-15 course. The second NEURO-15 course yielded even further improvement in the paralyzed upper limb function. Conclusions : Our proposed combination treatment is a safe, feasible, and clinically useful neurorehabilitative intervention for post-stroke patients with upper limb hemiparesis when administered as both a single application or as a 2X protocol. The effectiveness of the 2X protocol or even more frequent application of NEURO-15 courses needs to be further explored.

Anti-signal recognition particle myositis (ASRPM) is a steroid-resistant disease that develops in approximately 5-8％ of patients with dermatomyositis, polymyositis, or other types of myositis. It restricts the patient's activities of daily life (ADLs), mainly owing to muscle weakness of the trunk and proximal lower extremities. We report a case of ASRPM treated at a Kaifukuki rehabilitation ward (KRW；a type of inpatient rehabilitation ward in Japan). A female ASRPM patient in her eighties underwent treatment at the KRW twice, with an interval of 18 months between treatments. During each hospital stay, concentrative and graded exercise therapy was performed under continuous administration of steroid and tacrolimus hydrate. The severity of ASRPM was evaluated using periodic measurement of creatinine kinase (CK) levels. After each KRW treatment, the patient gained the ability to walk and perform instrumental ADLs to live alone. The details of exercise therapy for ASRPM and the management of ASRPM and steroid-induced osteoporosis and its complications (for e.g., lumbar compression fracture) are also discussed.

Objective: This review aimed to investigate the effects of music therapy on functional ability in people with cerebral palsy.Materials and Methods: An electronic search of the CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases was conducted. Randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of music therapy in patients with cerebral palsy were included.Results: Eight trials were eligible for inclusion in this study. We found a low risk of bias in random sequence generation and allocation concealment in all trials. The risk of bias in blinding of the outcome assessment was low in all studies. We found that music therapy had a significant effect on the Gross Motor Function Measure score (standardized mean difference [SMD] −0.42), Functional Independence Measure for Children score (SMD 0.38), and Goal Attainment Scale score (SMD −1.43). Music therapy had no significant effect on any of the other items.Conclusion: There is limited evidence that music therapy improves gross motor function and activities of daily living in patients with cerebral palsy. However, this was insufficient to allow for generalizable conclusions. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm the effects of music therapy in this population.