Modulation of motor cortical plasticity after BIG-physiotherapy in patients suffering from Parkinson's Disease

Research question: The study aims to examine the influence of a two or four week LSVT-BIG-physiotherapy on motor cortical plasticity using neurophysiological parameters of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD). Methodology: TMS was applied in 16 PD patients before and at the end of the physiotherapy period. The TMS research protocol comprised parameters evaluating corticospinal excitability (resting motor threshold, RMT; stimulus-response curve), intracortical inhibition and facilitation (Short-Interval Cortical inhibition, SICI; Intracortical Facilitation, I…