The effectiveness of transcranial magnetic stimulation in ameliorating limb motor function disorders after stroke: an umbrella review

Objective This study aimed to reassess systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on limb motor impairment in stroke patients. Methods The PRISMA 2020 checklist and AMSTAR 2 tool were used to evaluate the completeness of reporting and methodological quality of the included literature. The GRADE system was used to assess the quality of evidence for the outcome measures reported in the included systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Results A total of 34 articles were included. PRISMA 2020 scores ranged from 17.5 to 26, with a mean score of 22.44. Based on the AMSTAR 2 methodological quality assessment, two studies were rated as high quality, one as moderate, six as low, and 25 as very low. According to the GRADE system, the evidence consisted of four high-quality, 29 moderate-quality, 42 low-quality, and 46 very low-quality evidence bodies. Conclusion The findings suggest that TMS has a positive impact on the recovery of limb motor function in stroke patients, with notable improvements observed in upper limb function (e.g., ARAT and FMA-UE scores), walking ability, and activities of daily living. However, the overall strength of these conclusions is constrained by the generally low methodological quality of the included literature.