Published October 2, 2026, in Medicine, this pilot randomized 20 people with central poststroke pain to five sessions of real or sham intermittent theta-burst stimulation directed at the motor cortex. Participants met three neuropathic-pain screening criteria before enrollment.
What the pilot found PainDetect, LANSS, DN4 and numeric-rating scores all decreased from baseline after real iTBS. The same within-group pattern was not reported after sham. The abstract states that no adverse effects occurred during the sessions.
Why the comparison needs care The abstract does not provide allocation counts, effect sizes, confidence intervals, a direct group-by-time estimate or follow-up beyond the fifth session. A statistically significant change in one group and not the other does not by itself prove that the groups differed.
A useful next step The short protocol offers a practical signal for a larger, fully reported trial. Independent replication should establish the magnitude and durability of any benefit, account for concomitant treatment, and describe blinding, safety and function as well as pain scores.
Source and disclosure Authoritative abstract checked. The authors reported no funding and no conflicts of interest. The stimulator, coil and manufacturer were not identified in the checked abstract. Prepared with AI assistance and source-checked October 3, 2026.