Repetitive Motor Practice Impacts Neuromuscular System Plasticity in Healthy and Stroke Populations

Neuroplasticity or the brain’s ability to change and reorganize following injury, is a known critical factor to the rehabilitative process following neurological injuries [1]. In addition, neuroplasticity is now being considered as a component that may influence rehabilitation following musculoskeletal injuries [2]. While many non-invasive brain stimulation studies have focused on increasing cortical excitability during a single session [3-8], fewer studies have investigated the impact of repetitive motor practice to induce acute changes in motor performance and cortical excitability [9]. This is especially true regarding function at the wrist, as most of the interventions so far discussed in the literature focus on intrinsic hand muscles.